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The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has selected the California-based joint venture Tutor Perini/Zachry/Parsons as the best-scoring team for the design-build contract to begin constructing the Madera-to-Fresno segment, or first section of the state's high-speed rail system.

CHSRA had estimated the contract value at $1.2 billion to $1.8 billon, and determined Tutor Perini/Zachry/Parsons, which bid $985,142,530, offered the "apparent best value," authority officials said in a prepared statement.

Five teams submitted proposals for the project's first design-build contract. The proposals were evaluated and ranked based on 30 percent for technical merit and 70 percent for cost. Factors such as an understanding of the project, schedule capability, project approach and safety were part of the technical scoring process.

The selection marked a "significant milestone" in the high-speed rail project, said CHSRA Chief Executive Officer Jeff Morales.

"It's time to get to work in the Central Valley and create thousands of jobs," he said.