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Yesterday, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) from prospective design-build firms for the largest construction package within the initial Central Valley segment. Construction on the segment is scheduled to begin next fall, once the environmental process is completed.

The segment will extend between 21 and 29 miles, depending on the final alignment chosen through the environmental process, running from north of the San Joaquin River near Madera south through Fresno. Construction will include 12 grade separations, two viaducts, one tunnel and a crossing over the San Joaquin River.

Interested firms have 35 days to respond to the RFQ, which will establish a shortlist of qualified firms to provide design-build services for the segment. The shortlisted firms then will be eligible to respond to a request for proposals that CHSRA plans to release in spring 2012.

CHSRA plans to issue the contract, which has an estimated value of between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, by the end of 2012. Smaller construction packages, focused on work in and around the city of Fresno, will be released for bid in the coming months and awarded in mid-2012, according to the authority.

CHSRA anticipates receiving RFQs from national and international construction and design firms, likely in teams. The authority has set a small and disadvantaged business participation goal of 30 percent of the contract value.

To view the RFQ, click here.