Amtrak awards delivery partner contract for Frederick Douglass Tunnel program

Amtrak has awarded its first "delivery partner" contract, a construction management approach that will support the $6 billion Frederick Douglass Tunnel program, the railroad’s single-largest capital project.

The selected team, ADVANCE, is a joint venture between major infrastructure firms AECOM and Jacobs. The team will establish an integrated program management team alongside Amtrak’s in-house capital delivery department.

The award follows a competitive procurement process that began in early 2023. In a delivery partner model, the private partner shares in Amtrak's risk to deliver the program and is incentivized to help the railroad achieve overall program outcomes, according to an Amtrak news release.

The delivery partner’s work will include design oversight, construction management, contract management and other administrative support services.