California High-Speed Rail Authority identifies preferred bidder for next construction package

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has identified California Rail Builders as the apparent best value proposer for the design-build services contract for Construction Package 4, which is the next 22-mile segment of construction in the Central Valley.

Conceptual rendering of a California high-speed train
Photo: California High-Speed Rail Authority Flickr account

The firm's $348 million bid came in below the authority's original cost projections of $400 million to $500 million for the package, according to a CHSRA press release.

California Rail Builders, which includes Ferrovial Agroman U.S. Corp., has designed and constructed more than 65 high-speed rail projects around the world, CHSRA officials said. Over the past eight years, Ferrovial has been awarded seven major design-build contracts in North America totaling $8 billion.

CHSRA will continue to finalize the procurement process, and a contract term sheet outlining the material provisions of the current contract will be presented to the authority's board on Jan. 12.

At that meeting, authority staff will seek approval to conduct limited negotiations and enter into a contract with the apparent best value proposer, CHSRA officials said.

The work will include construction of at-grade, retained fill and aerial sections of alignment; relocation of 4 miles of existing BNSF Railway Co. tracks; construction of waterway and wildlife crossings; and roadway reconstructions, relocations and closures.

Five teams submitted proposals to CHSRA for the design-build services contract. The proposals were evaluated and ranked based on 30 percent for technical merit and 70 percent for price. Factors such as an understanding of the project, schedule capacity, project approach and safety were part of the technical scoring.

Construction Package 4 will extend about 22 miles through the Central Valley, stretching from 1 mile north of the Tulare/Kern County line to Poplar Ave. north of Bakersfield, Calif.


Map of Construction Package 4 (Click to view a larger image.)
Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority