Geotechnical Engineering & Environmental Assessment Services

Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) is soliciting proposals from qualified geotechnical engineering firms with demonstrated experience in public transit facilities and environmentally sensitive sites to provide geotechnical engineering services and environmental assessment services for Authority‑owned property that houses its maintenance garage, fueling infrastructure, and underground storage tanks (USTs).

The selected firm will support the Authority in evaluating subsurface conditions, environmental risks, regulatory compliance, and future capital improvement planning for the site.

The Brooks Act (Public Law 92-582, 40 U.S.C. 541 et seq.), which was enacted on October 18, 1972, establishes the procurement process by which architects and engineers (A/Es) are selected for design contracts with federal design and construction agencies. The Brooks Act establishes a qualifications-based selection process, known as "QBS," in which contracts for A/Es are negotiated based on demonstrated competence and qualification for the type of professional services required at a fair and reasonable price. Under Brooks Act procurement procedures, price quotations are not a consideration in the selection process.

AUTHORITY RIGHTS & RESERVATIONS

The Authority reserves the right to:

• Reject any or all proposals
• Waive informalities
• Modify the scope or schedule
• Negotiate price with the selected firm

Background

The Authority owns and operates a transit maintenance facility located at:

Site Address:1127 W. Central Avenue

Toledo, Ohio, 43610

The site includes, but is not limited to:

• Bus maintenance garage and service bays
• Bus Garage
• Fueling and wash infrastructure
• Underground storage tanks (USTs)
• Stormwater management features
• Pavement, foundations, and utility systems

The Authority anticipates future rehabilitation, expansion, or redevelopment of the facility and requires a comprehensive understanding of geotechnical conditions and environmental liabilities to inform planning, design, and regulatory compliance.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-REQ-056
• Department: Operations
• Department Head: Charles Odimgbe (Chief Operating Officer)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-05-29T19:00:00.000Z
• Answers Posted By: 2026-06-05T19:00:00.000Z
• Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-05-22T17:00:00.000Z — Microsoft Teams meeting. https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/217379759183811?p=ZAw3LF3Q6D9SWNvc2w

Evaluation Criteria

• Relevant Experience (30 pts)
• Understanding of the Project and Technical Approach (25 pts)
• Firm and Team Qualifications (25 pts)
• Past Performance and References (20 pts)

Submission Requirements

• Proposal Documents (required) —

  Please upload your complete proposal here, including 

  1. Cover Letter
  2. Firm Qualifications & Experience
  3. Project Team & Key Personnel
  4. Understanding of the Project & Approach
  5. Relevant Project Experience
  6. Proposed Schedule
  7. Lobbying Certificate
  8. Declaration of Non-Collusion
• Proposal (without Cost Proposal) (required) —

  Please Upload your COMPLETE Proposal here. Upload fee proposal separately in the next step.

• Separate Cost Proposal (required) —

  Confirm that your fee proposal is not attached in your Proposal and is attached separately here.

• Bid Bond (required) —

  Each bid shall be accompanied by a certified cashier’s check, or bid bond, in the amount of XXXXXof the total bid price, payable toToledo Area Regional Transit Authority, as a guarantee that the bidder, if its bid is accepted, will promptly execute the Agreement. The bidder shall guarantee the total bid price for a period of 60 days from the date of the bid opening.

  Please scan and upload a copy of your bid bond/cashier's check. Bidder must also MAIL bid guarantee with a postmarked date no later thanFriday, June 12, 2026 addressed to:

  Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority
  Zach Morrison
  1127 Central Avenue
  Toledo,OH43610

  Please have the Bidder Name, Contract Title ("Geotechnical Engineering & Environmental Assessment Services"), and Contract Number ("2026-REQ-056") listed clearly on the outside of the envelope.

• Contract Execution, Payment Bond, Performance Bond, and Certificate(s) of Insurance (required) —

  The contract shall be executed by the successful bidder and shall be returned, together with the Payment Bond, Performance Bond and Certificate(s) of Insurance to Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority so that it is received within 14 working daysafter the bidder has received the contract for execution. Failure to do so shall be just cause for forfeiture of the proposal guaranty.

• Bid Bond (required) —

  Will this solicitation require a bid bond?

• Electronic Pricing Table (required) —

  Would you like to have bidders respond to an electronic pricing table through OpenGov?

  Some examples of of when to say "yes":

  1. This is a quote for goods or commodities
  2. This is a public works bid, with a pricing table that can be uploaded into OpenGov from an excel spreadsheet
  3. Seeking services for hourly rate schedules
• Separate Fee Proposal Upload (required) —

  If you are NOT using the Electronic Pricing Table option, will you want your bidder to separate a Price Proposal from the rest of their Response? You'll want to do this if you open your bids initially WITHOUT showing price, and then come back in after a technical evaluation to unseal pricing later.

• Evaluation Committee? (required) —

  Will there be an evaluation committee to review the proposals and score them based on weights and multiple criteria?