Bus Rapid Transit Independent Cost Estimator Professional Services

This document constitutes a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Professional Services Contract from qualified organizations (referred to as the “Proposer” during procurement) to furnish those services as described herein for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA). This contract is to provide necessary Independent Cost Estimator (ICE) Services (referred to as the “ICE Consultant” in this solicitation document). One consultant will be selected to provide these services as described herein.

Inclusion of an ICE Consultant is beneficial as part of CMAR projects that have construction costs greater than $10M or have unique complexity that would benefit from the experience of an ICE Consultant’s approach to estimate development. The ICE Consultant would be contracted directly by SORTA. The ICE Consultant will provide an independent estimate of the construction work during the Preconstruction Phase of the project. The ICE Consultant will validate the cost(s) and production proposals submitted by the CMAR Contractor.

The ICE Consultant will begin work immediately after receiving authorization to proceed in accordance with SORTA’s project schedule included in the CMAR Contract, which is anticipated to include the following milestones:

These dates are tentative and are subject to change.

Project information:

• Project Funding: State and Federal Funds
• Full Contract Term: Five Years (or completion of the scope, including optional scope)

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (“SORTA”), commonly known as Cincinnati Metro, is a regional transit authority established pursuant to Section 306.30 et seq. of the Ohio Revised Code. As such, SORTA is a political subdivision of the State of Ohio.

SORTA delivers a range of public transportation services, including fixed-route mass transit, paratransit, and micro-transit. Its service area encompasses the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and portions of Butler, Clermont, and Warren Counties.

SORTA operates 48 fixed bus routes, utilizing a fleet of approximately 300 transit buses. In addition, it provides paratransit services with a fleet of 60 vehicles and micro-transit services with 30 vehicles, ensuring accessible and flexible transportation options across the region.

SORTA is proposing a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System along two corridors:

• Reading Road BRT Corridor: the 9.2-mile Reading Road BRT corridor extends from the Riverfront Transit Center at Second Street in Downtown Cincinnati to Cincinnati’s Roselawn neighborhood.

• Hamilton Avenue BRT Corridor: the 11-mile Hamilton Avenue BRT corridor extends from the Riverfront Transit Center at Second Street in Downtown Cincinnati to the inner ring suburbs of North College Hill and Mount Healthy.

The Reading Road and Hamilton Avenue BRT Corridor projects are part of SORTA’s Reinventing Metro plan, which consists of new capital projects and infrastructure improvements, including the construction of four BRT lines. The Reading Road Corridor BRT project is planned to be the first BRT line constructed as part of this plan, with the procurement of a Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR) Contractor currently underway.

Following delivery of the Reading Road Corridor, SORTA plans to procure a CMAR Contractor for the Hamilton Avenue Corridor BRT project. The Hamilton Avenue Corridor is one of the main north-south travel routes in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. As part of this BRT project, infrastructure improvements would be made to roadway pavement, drainage, sidewalks, and traffic signals.

SORTA intends to use the (CMAR method for the delivery of the Reading Road and Hamilton Avenue Bus Rapid Transit projects (referred to collectively as “the Project” throughout the document).