Traffic Signal Design

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

Professional Engineering Services – Traffic Signal Design (Seven Intersections)

City of Cleveland, Tennessee

Issue Date: January 22, 2026

Statements of Qualifications Due: On or before February 9, 2026, at 4:00 PM, ET

Delivery Location: Email to Kristi Powers at

The City of Cleveland, Tennessee ("City") is requesting Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified professional engineering firms to provide traffic signal design services for seven (7) intersections within the City. The City intends to procure these services using a qualifications-based selection approach and will negotiate scope and compensation with the highest-ranked firm in accordance with applicable City procurement policies and any applicable state or federal requirements.

Important: This is an RFQ. Fee proposals are not requested at this stage.

The City anticipates design services for the following intersections (dates indicate current planning targets and may be adjusted):

All intersections shall be designed with new powder-coated black mast arms.

TDOT Standards: Use TDOT standard traffic specifications and drawings (T-SG series) for traffic signal components and related work where not specified by TDOT Special Provision 730CLEV.

All furnishing, materials, equipment, and installation necessary to complete traffic signal installation (including incidentals required for a complete and operational system) shall adhere to TDOT Special Provision 730CLEV (SP730CLEV), Section 730 – Traffic Signals.

• Kickoff meeting; field reviews; coordination with City staff and, as needed, TDOT and utilities.
• Identify design criteria, constraints, right-of-way considerations, utility conflicts, and constructability concerns.
• Maintain a project schedule aligned with the City’s anticipated letting and construction windows.
• Apply QA/QC procedures to all deliverables.

For clarity, the City intends the following scope inclusions/exclusions to apply to all intersections:

• Turn lane design and associated roadway/drainage design (e.g., geometric widening, taper/auxiliary-lane extensions, curb-and-gutter/edge-of-pavement shifts, storm drainage modifications) are not included in the anticipated scope unless specifically authorized by the City via a negotiated amendment or task authorization.
• If raised concrete channelized right-turn islands are deemed required within the existing intersection footprint, the island design (including geometry, curb details, signing/striping impacts, and related notes/details) shall be included in the design package.
• If raised concrete channelized right-turn islands are deemed required and the corresponding existing footprint requires alteration to accommodate the island, that alteration within the intersection footprint and the island design shall be included in the design package. Drainage design beyond incidental surface adjustments within the immediate island/footprint alteration remains excluded unless specifically authorized by the City.
• Prepare traffic signal plans, including field verification as needed to support design.
• Mast arm signal design: Provide new powder-coated black mast arm layouts (foundation, pole locations, arm lengths, clearances, and related details).
• Incorporate TDOT T-SG standard drawings and specifications for components and installation requirements.
• Traffic signal design shall include all required phasing drawings and associated plan sheets.
• SP730CLEV Compliance: Prepare plans and bid documents that incorporate and reference TDOT Special Provision 730CLEV (SP730CLEV) as the governing special provision for furnishing and installing all necessary materials and equipment for complete in-place traffic signal systems, including required incidentals.

• Include all necessary traffic control as a required design deliverable appropriate to each intersection and construction staging needs.
• Provide Traffic Control Plans (TCPs) / MOT plans and narrative suitable for inclusion in bid documents, consistent with TDOT standards and practices.
• Address lane closures, temporary signing and pavement markings, and sequencing considerations.

• Provide soil boring data and geotechnical deliverables necessary for mast arm foundations and related structures.
• Include boring locations at proposed pole/foundation sites as appropriate and a geotechnical report suitable for design and construction.
• If geotechnical services are subcontracted, identify the subconsultant and qualifications within the SOQ.

Design each intersection to be ready for future pedestrian equipment, including (at minimum) accommodations in plans and details such as:

• Conduit/cable routing provisions and pull box locations as appropriate.
• Space and mounting considerations for future pedestrian indications and pushbuttons (including ADA/PROWAG considerations as applicable).
• Placeholder notes/details indicating future pedestrian equipment integration requirements.

• Provide pavement marking plans for each intersection, including stop bars, lane lines, arrows, and channelization markings.
• Include all required pedestrian markings (e.g., crosswalks and related markings) where applicable to the intersection’s design and future readiness.
• Ensure plans are consistent with TDOT standards and MUTCD requirements.

For the two intersections with existing signals:

• 25th St (TN State Route 60) @ Westside Dr / Georgetown Rd
• 25th St (TN State Route 60) @ Peerless Rd

Provide project phasing/staging to coordinate:

• Transition from existing wood poles/anchors to new mast arms.
• Existing equipment removal/abandonment requirements.
• Temporary operations required to maintain signal control during construction (as applicable).
• Coordination notes for contractor sequencing and any temporary traffic control needs.

The City is intentionally leaving the following component specifications as placeholders within this RFQ. The selected consultant shall develop project-specific recommendations during design consistent with Cleveland proprietary product list on file with TDOT (dated 9/22/2025), TDOT T-SG standards, City preferences, and/or SP730CLEV.

Include placeholders within plans and/or special provisions for items such as:

• Signal cabinet and internal components: [PLACEHOLDER – CABINET MAKE/MODEL, CONTROLLER, MMU, COMMUNICATIONS, DETECTION INTERFACES, ETC.]
• Signal conductors, conduit, and related materials: [PLACEHOLDER – CONDUCTOR TYPE/COUNT, CONDUIT SIZES, ROUTING ASSUMPTIONS]
• Signal heads and indications: [PLACEHOLDER – HEAD CONFIGURATIONS, BACKPLATES, VISIBILITY LIMITS]
• Battery backup / UPS: [PLACEHOLDER – TYPE, RUN-TIME, INTEGRATION REQUIREMENTS]
• Signs (advance warning, street name signs, regulatory/warning): [PLACEHOLDER – SIGN SCHEDULE ASSUMPTIONS]
• Detection (video/radar/loops) as applicable: [PLACEHOLDER – DETECTION STRATEGY BY APPROACH]
• Lighting/illumination (if applicable): [PLACEHOLDER – INTERSECTION LIGHTING ASSUMPTIONS]
• Communications / interconnect (if applicable): [PLACEHOLDER – FIBER/WIRELESS/ETHERNET ASSUMPTIONS]

Final deliverables are expected to be suitable for bidding and construction and may include, as applicable:

• Plan set(s) for each intersection (or packaged sets as directed by the City), including signal layout, foundations, conduit/cable, phasing drawings, signing, pavement markings, traffic control/MOT, and (where applicable) removal/demolition plans.
• Engineer’s opinion of probable construction cost (OPCC) and quantity summaries.
• Technical specifications/special provisions consistent with TDOT T-SG series (and City requirements).
• Special Provisions: Include TDOT Special Provision 730CLEV (SP730CLEV) in the bid documents/specifications package and ensure plan notes and pay item scope are consistent with SP730CLEV requirements for complete, operational signal systems (including incidentals).
• Geotechnical report and boring logs/data.
• Submission packages suitable for TDOT review/approval where required.
• Electronic deliverables: PDF and editable CAD files [CAD platform/version placeholder] and associated design files, plus calculations and support documentation.

The City anticipates selecting one (1) firm to provide design services. Contracting may be structured as a single agreement covering all seven intersections with negotiated task authorizations, or separate negotiated scopes aligned with each intersection’s planned delivery window. The City reserves the right to adjust scope, schedule, packaging, and sequencing based on funding, permitting, and project priorities.

Provide one (1) complete SOQ organized as follows:

• Cover Letter (signed by an authorized representative).
• Firm Profile (office locations, years in business, Tennessee licensure status; prime/subconsultant roles).
• Project Team and Key Personnel (Project Manager, Lead Signal Engineer, QA/QC lead; brief resumes; relevant certifications).
• Relevant Experience (comparable mast arm, state route coordination, signal replacement, and MOT projects; include references).
• Project Understanding and Approach (delivery sequencing across staggered dates; TDOT coordination; MOT/TCP development; existing-signal changeover phasing; future pedestrian readiness; pavement markings).
• Quality Management (QA/QC processes, checklists, and independent review steps).
• Capacity and Availability (workload and ability to meet anticipated windows Winter 2026 through Q2 2029).
• Litigation/Claims/Disclosures (as required by City policy).

Submittal Format:

• Electronic PDF emailed to Kristi Powers at For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address.
• File naming convention: FirmName_SOQ.pdf
• Deadline: February 9, 2026, at 4 PM, ET (Late submittals will be rejected)

SOQs will be evaluated based on qualifications and demonstrated capability, including:

• Project team qualifications and relevant experience (signals, mast arms, replacements).
• Understanding of scope and approach (including MOT, phasing, future pedestrian readiness).
• Experience coordinating with TDOT and working on state routes.
• Quality management / QA/QC procedures.
• Capacity to meet schedule windows.
• Past performance and references.

The City may short-list firms and conduct interviews at its discretion.

Any project questions should be directed to David Sheely, Transportation Director, For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. .  Deadline for questions is February 3, 2026, at 5:00 PM, ET.

The City reserves the right to:

• Reject any or all SOQs; waive informalities; request clarifications; and modify the schedule.
• Negotiate scope and compensation with the highest-ranked firm; if unsuccessful, terminate negotiations and proceed to the next ranked firm.
• Modify intersection packaging, priorities, or timing.
• Eliminate an intersection from the list and insert a comparable intersection as a substitution.

• New powder-coated black mast arm layouts and foundation designs (all intersections).
• TDOT T-SG series standards incorporated.
• TDOT Special Provision 730CLEV (SP730CLEV) included and applied for complete in-place signal systems (including incidentals).
• Traffic signal phasing drawings (all intersections).
• Traffic control/MOT plans and construction staging (all intersections).
• Soil borings and geotechnical report (all intersections).
• Existing signal transition/removal phasing (Intersections 4 and 5).
• Future pedestrian equipment readiness (all intersections).
• Pavement marking plans including pedestrian markings (all intersections).
• Channelized right-turn island design within the existing intersection footprint (as applicable; see Section 3.2.1).
• OPCC and quantities suitable for bid documents.