On-Call Transportation Engineering Services

The City of Modesto (City) is soliciting Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for On-Call Transportation Engineering Services for the City of Modesto. Submittals are due before 11:00 am on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

Background

The City of Modesto will be planning, designing and constructing various capital improvement projects over the next several years. The City is looking for transportation engineering services from established local firms with experience in transportation and traffic engineering design, studies, and reports. The City intends to select two (2) consultants for a period of two (2) years with the options of three (3) one-year extensions through the mutual consent between the City and the chosen Consultants.

Project Details

• Reference ID: RFQ-00090
• Department: Engineering Services
• Department Head: Toby Wells (Engineering Services Director)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-06-16T23:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• Completeness of Response (1 pts) —

  Responses to this RFQ must be complete. Responses that do not include the proposal content requirements identified within this RFQ and subsequent addenda and do not address each of the items listed below will be considered incomplete, be rated a Fail in the Evaluation Criteria and will receive no further consideration.

• Conflict of Interest Statement (1 pts) —
  • Discloses any financial, business or other relationship with the City of Modesto that may have an impact upon the outcome of the contract or construction projects.
  • Lists current clients who may have a financial interest in the outcome of this contract.
• Experience (40 pts) —
  • Years of experience of firm and/or its principals as design professionals.
  • • If experience is lacking; explanation by consultant as why firm should be selected.
  • Broad character and scope of past projects.
  • Experience with Federal, State, and Locally funded projects.
  • Experience of proposed team members in projects of similar magnitude, design requirements and complexity, within the past five (5) years. Identify each team member’s involvement in the specific project listed and with which firm they were employed when the work was done.
  • History of repeat business with clients within the last five (5) years. Designate the previous (within the past five (5) years) engineering contracts with the City of Modesto.
• Analysis (24 pts) —
  • Originality, creativity, and soundness of approach to problem solving and analysis of design requirements.
  • Demonstrate management and organizational ability as it relates to time management, scheduling, City staff/client relationships, etc., and the ability to meet deadlines.
  •  Ability to execute complete, clear and concise reports and produce a quality work product.
• General (34 pts) —
  • Location of firm in relation to the City of Modesto. (measured using Google Earth circle radius) 
  • • • Within County of Stanislaus 3 points (max).
      • Within 50 miles measured from 1010 10^th Street 2 points.
      • Within 100 miles measured from 1010 10^th Street 1 points.
      • Outside 100 miles from 1010 10^th Street 0 points.
  • Size of firm and available staff as appropriate for the required services.
  • General comprehension of the potential assignments and responsiveness to the design service requirements.
  • Demonstrated understanding of community economic and social relationship, such as citizen and environmental concerns, energy conservation, ecological and economic considerations.
  • Firm reputation as it relates to principles, credibility, and attitude.

Submission Requirements

• Cover Letter —

  Upload a cover letter that satisfies the following requirements:

  A cover letter introducing the firm and its commitment to provide services to the City, and the engineering design team that highlights key attributes of the required transportation engineering and management qualifications, the team’s approach toward engineering design and the firm’s commitment to provide services to the City of Modesto shall be included. Include contact information for the person(s) capable of negotiating rates and contract terms.

• Firm Experience —

  The proposed firm’s transportation engineering design experience. For the prime consultant, and any sub-consulting firms, provide the following information:

  • Names of principals indicating experience, background, academic training, and where registered.
  • Length of time in business.
  • Office address(es) from which services will be supported, percentage of work, and/or category of work to be performed in each office.
  • Facilities and manpower of the office(s) in which the work will be performed.
  • Listing of experience for five (5) completed major projects, including scope and fee of consulting services provided; type, size, and cost of facility constructed; completion date; and name, address, and phone number of knowledgeable owner representative.
  • Key issues and challenges, and how they were resolved.
  • Specialty areas addressed and sub-consultant involvement.
• Project Manager —

  The firm’s Project Manager (PM) is defined to be the individual within the prime consultant’s firm who is directly responsible for and engaged in leading the required design services. The PM must be knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of the design category selected.
   
  The SOQ shall include the following information demonstrating the PM’s knowledge, experience, and availability:

  • Name and title, years of experience with the prime consultant’s firm, and years of experience with other firms.
  • Education, degree, specializations.
  • Representative experience for not more than five (5) recently completed projects, similar in scope. In addition, provide information on all projects that are currently in progress to which the PM is committed:
  • • Owner, project description (including size), location and completion date. If project is in progress, provided estimated completion date and level of commitment.
    • Name, address and phone number of knowledgeable owner representative.
    • Firm with which the individual was employed during project experience.
    • Consultant services for which the individual was directly responsible; service/functions directly performed by individual (not just job title).
• Other Key Project Staff (limit to 6 individuals) —

  Project Engineer and other key personnel shall have engineering design experience in the related category of the capital improvement project. Provide for each individual:

  • Name and title, years of experience with the prime consultant’s firm, and years of experience with other firms.
  • Specific project responsibility and functions to be performed.
  • Education, degrees, specializations.
  • Representative experience for not more than three (3) recently completed projects similar in scope to the design services requested. In addition, provide the following information on all projects that are currently in progress to which the team members are committed:
  • • Owner, project description (including size), location and completion date. If project is in progress, provide estimated completion date and level of commitment.
    • Name, address and phone number of knowledgeable owner representative.
    • Firm with which the individual was employed during project experience.
    • Consultant services for which the individual was directly responsible; service/functions directly performed by individual (not just job title).
• Conflict of Interest Statement —

  The proposing Consultant shall disclose any financial, business or other relationship with the City of Modesto that may have an impact upon the outcome of the contract or the construction project. The Consultant shall also list current clients who may have a financial interest in the outcome of this contract or any of the construction projects that will follow. The proposing Consultant shall disclose any financial interest or relationship with any construction company that might submit a bid on the future projects.

• Conflict of Interest Statement (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Litigation Statement —

  Indicate if the proposing Consultant was involved with any litigation in connection with prior projects. If yes, briefly describe the nature of the litigation and the result.

• Litigation Statement (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Contract Agreement —

  Indicate if the proposing Consultant has any issues or needs changes to the proposed contract agreement included, titled “Sample Standard Agreement for Consultant Services.”

  A sample City of Modesto Standard Agreement is included for your reference (pages 18-27).  Please review the sample agreement carefully with your legal and/or insurance representative.  Consultants are REQUIRED to submit any questions, concerns or language change requests regarding this agreement in writing as part of this Statement of Qualifications (SOQ).  Firms choosing not to submit any questions, concerns or language change requests, in writing, as part of this Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), are assumed to agree with the agreement in its entirety, as written, with no exceptions.

  A contract will not be awarded to a consultant without an adequate financial management and accounting system as required by 48 CFR Part 16.301-3, 2 CFR Part 200, and 48 CFR Part 31.

• Audit and Review Process —

  State and Federal requirements listed below, and specific contract requirements, serve as the standards for audits and reviews performed.

  Applicable standards include, but are not limited to:

  • Caltrans Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM);
  • State and Federal agreements between LPAs and Caltrans, (i.e., Master Agreements);
  • Project Program Supplemental Agreements;
  • 23 U.S.C., Section 112 – Letting of Contracts;
  • 40 U.S.C., Chapter 11: the Brooks Act;
  • 23 CFR 172 - Procurement, Management, and Administration of Engineering and Design Related Services;
  • 23 CFR, Chapter 1- Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation;
  • 48 CFR, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Part 31- Contract Cost Principles and Procedures; •
  • 48 CFR, Chapter 99 – Cost Accounting Standards Board, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget
  • 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards;
  • United States Government Accountability Office, Government Auditing Standards - Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS);
  • California Government Code sections 4529.5 and 4529.10-4529.20; and
  • Proposed contract terms and conditions.

  *No submission required, this is for informational purposes only.

• Federal-Aid Provisions —

  The proposing Consultant’s services are federally funded, which necessitate compliance with additional requirements. Special attention is directed to Exhibit C of the Standard Consultant Agreement (pages 28-30).

  Upon award and through completion of the project, the successful proposing Consultant will be required to follow applicable federal-aid requirements and shall complete and submit with the agreement the following forms at the time of award:

  • 10-A
  • 10-C
  • 10-H
  • 10-K
  • 10-O
  • 10-Q
  • Any other relevant forms required during the project.

  Consultant shall demonstrate familiarity of providing services for federally funded projects and has clear understanding of requirements/needs to facilitate the project through Caltrans Local Assistance and Local Assistance Procedures Manual.

  The selected firms are expected to have on file a current annual certification of indirect costs and financial management system per Caltrans Local Assistance Procedures.

• Additional Considerations —

  The successful consultant will be required to provide proof of insurance. A description of types of coverage and dollar amounts required are included in Exhibit C: Insurance Requirements for Professional Services (pages 28-30).

  The selected consultant’s Principal will also be required to file a Statement of Economic Interest Form 700 with the City to the satisfaction of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) when the firm provides information, advice, recommendations or counsel to the City.  Before the City enters into an agreement for services with the selected consultant, the Principal will be required to report individual economic interests with the City of Modesto on the following:

  • Real Property Interest (geographically limited)
  • Sources of Income
  • Business Positions
  • Business Investments

  *No submission required, this is for informational purposes only.

• Additional Information —

  Provide any additional information supporting your firm's qualifications for the engineering design services required as stated within this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) please upload the additional documentation as part of your proposal.

• Cost Proposal —

  In order to assure that the City of Modesto is able to acquire professional services based on the criteria set forth in the Brooks Act and Government Code 4526, the proposal shall include a cost proposal for the on-call service with specific rate of compensation for the term of the contract. Proposing Consultants will be required to submit certified payroll records, as required.

  The methods of payment to be at least included in your cost proposal shall be specific rates of compensation and cost per unit work.

  Specific rates will be provided for each class of employee engaged directly in the work.

  Cost per unit work shall at least include:

  • Technical review of plans against local, state, and federal standards including for traffic signal design, signal timing, geometric roadway design, and roundabouts
  • The development of design plans sheets
  • The development of technical specifications per section (5 sheets)

  Cost proposal shall be submitted as a separate file if stated in this Request for Qualifications (RFQ).  An upload area stating such will be made available within this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on the City’s OpenGov Procurement Portal.  If such a requirement is noted in this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), no cost information should be present in the other uploads you provide unless otherwise specified within this Request for Qualifications (RFQ).  Before submitting the file, make sure to review the file to avoid submitting duplicate files.

  The cost proposal is confidential and will be unsealed after all proposals have been reviewed, and most qualified consultant has been selected. Include with the cost proposal your certification of indirect cost rates and financial management system.

  Reference sample cost estimate - LAPM Exhibit 10-H2 (Attachment B).

  Selected Consultant shall comply with Section 10.1.3 of the Local Assistance Procedures Manual regarding the A&E Consultant Audit and Review Process.

• Due at Time of SOQ Deadline —
  • SOQ with Resumes
  • Cost Proposal - Exhibit 10-H2 (Attachment B) (uploaded separately)
  • Standard Agreement for Consultant Services with redlines or noted as accepted with no revisions
  • Exhibit 10-Q Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
  • Exhibit 10-O1 (Under Caltrans direction this item is currently paused)
• Proposal (required) —

  Please upload your Proposal here formatted in the manner required by this Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

• Proposal (without Cost) (required) —

  Please upload your Proposal here formatted in the manner required by this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). This upload here should NOT INCLUDE any pricing information as that will be uploaded separately.

• Separate Cost File (required) —

  Please upload LAPM 10-H2 (Attachment B) here. This information should not be part of your main proposal upload which is why it is requested separately here.

• Submittal Confirmation (required) —

  Consultant hereby certifies that all information provided within this submittal is accurate to the best of their knowledge and acknowledges that they have provided proof of their authority to submit a Statements of Qualifications on behalf of the stated Company Name committing them to the information contained within said submittal.

  By checking the "please confirm" box below, you certify the above statement.

• Exhibit 10-Q Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Financial Interest Disclosure (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• California Levine Act Disclosure (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• RFP or RFQ? (required) —

  Is this particular solicitation a Request for Proposals? Or is it a Request for Qualifications?

  Or is it for a combination of both?

• Confirm Submittal Type (required) —

  In order to assist with automating the creation of this solicitation by quickly populating all areas stating the type of submittal, please confirm the type of submittal(s) you wish to receive. Your answer here should match your answer to the previous question.

• Work or Project? (required) —

  Is this to procure general work under a Purchase Order/Contract or for a project?

• Brief Description of Work/Project (required) —

  As if you are completing the following sentence (specifically the highlighted area), please provide a brief description of the work to be performed.

  The purpose of the work is [Brief description of work].

  The scope of services for this project shall include [Brief description of work].

  The City is seeking {Confirm Submittal Type} as one single package from civil engineering design firms that demonstrate experience in [Brief description of work]  with similar magnitude and scope to the described project components.

• Electronic Pricing Table (required) —

  Do you wish to use the electronic pricing table within OpenGov Procurement to obtain pricing/cost information from consultants for this RFP/RFQ?

• Separate Cost Information? (required) —

  Do you want to separate the cost information from the rest of the proposal? This is a different question from using the electronic pricing table as you may have both the pricing table and a file upload. The pricing upload may contain a breakdown beyond what you require in the table, but you may also choose to just use the pricing upload.