HSR25-25 Invitation for Bids for Overhead Contact System (OCS) Poles

08/22/2025: The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) will be releasing a new Invitation for Bids (IFB) to purchase commoditized Overhead Contact Systems (OCS) poles materials, necessary to complete the First Construction Segment of its high-speed rail track.

A draft IFB is available for review as an attachment to this Cal-eProcure event. This draft IFB will be considered for approval and official release by the Authority's Board of Directors at its meeting scheduled for August 28, 2025, and is subject to change and approval by the Authority's Board of Directors.

Posting of this draft IFB does not constitute acceptance of bids. The draft IFB or its approval, if granted by the Board of Directors, does not constitute a release of the final IFB. Release of the final IFB will occur via notice and posting on Cal-eProcure.

Questions regarding this procurement may be submitted only upon final approval of IFB by the Board of Directors and release on the California State Contract Register.

Each materials contract will be issued through multiple Notices to Proceed (NTPs) as described below. The estimated cumulative value for all materials contracts (steel OCS poles, rail, concrete ties, ballast, OCS system components, and fiber optic cable) is not-to-exceed $507.1 million for NTP 1.

- NTP 1: The initial authorization to be issued for the manufacture and supply of Materials for use in construction on the 119-mile First Construction Section.

- NTP 2: To be issued at the Authority's option for the manufacture and supply of Materials for use in construction on the northern extension (Merced to Madera).

- NTP 3: To be issued at the Authority's option for the manufacture and supply of Materials for use in construction on the southern extension (Poplar Avenue in the County of Kern to Bakersfield).

The scope of work for this specific procurement and resulting contract is to provide OCS poles materials, including baseplates, for use in construction on the 119-mile First Construction Section, with an estimated lead time of six to twelve weeks for NTP 1.

General requirements for each material are provided in the IFB and draft agreement. The Contractor shall not perform any Work unless the Authority, in its sole discretion, issues a Notice to Proceed (NTP) and Purchase Order for such work. The actual amount of Work requested by the Authority is subject to the availability of funding. In addition, all materials must be newly manufactured goods and conform to the technical specifications provided by the Authority. All materials supplied must be Buy America and Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) compliant, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 22905 and 2 C.F.R. part 184.

Information regarding the Pre-Bid Conference and Small Business Workshop is available on the Authority's Website.

The anticipated schedule for this new procurement is as follows:
IFB Release: September 2025

- Virtual Pre-Bid Conference: TBD

- Bid Due/Opening Date: Q4 2025

- Notice of Proposed Award: Q4 2025

- Anticipated Contract Execution and Notice to Proceed: Q4 2025

Questions regarding this procurement should be submitted to Trevor Newhouse at materialpurchase@hsr.ca.gov or (916) 324-1541.