Freight Grade Separation Planning Studies Program Services

H-GAC is seeking a Contractor who can provide traditional and innovative solutions to improve safety and reduce delays near at-grade rail crossings.

The H-GAC region faces significant challenges regarding safety and efficiency, with roughly 1,200 at-grade public crossings grouped around freight corridors, ports, and historic urban neighborhoods. Blocked crossings pose safety hazards and delays for daily commuters, pedestrians, and cyclists. [...] H-GAC intends to award one contract to a qualified prime Contractor to manage and perform the assigned feasibility studies.

H-GAC is launching the strategic Freight Grade Separation Planning Studies Program Services to support the development of crossing solutions through planning-level feasibility studies. The Grade Separation Feasibility Plans will lay the groundwork for transformative improvements that ensure safer, faster, and more reliable transportation in our region.

The Freight Grade Separation Planning Studies Program will support feasibility studies for individual rail crossings and groups of consecutive crossings, collectively referred to as rail corridors. Local government partners will submit project applications through a separate, concurrent process for H-GAC review and approval. H-GAC will determine which projects are approved and assigned to the Contractor based on program needs, available funding, and project priorities.

Each study must evaluate potential grade separation solutions and identify appropriate short-, medium-, and long-term implementation timelines.

The Contractor will provide centralized program management, consistent study methodologies, stakeholder and railroad coordination, quality control, and standardized data and deliverables across assigned projects. The Contractor may use subcontractors but remains responsible for all contract performance, deliverables, and subcontractor management. Proposals must include a project management plan, Gantt chart, and subcontractor tasks and deliverables.

H-GAC may assign up to ten study locations and/or corridors during the contract term, subject to funding, program needs, and Contractor capacity. No minimum number of assignments or expenditure is guaranteed.

Required Study Tasks

• Task 1 - Project Management
• Task 2 - External Coordination and Public Involovement
• Task 3 - Existing Conditions Analysis and Data Collection
• Task 4 - Railroad Data Collection and Field Reconnaissance
• Task 5 - Preliminary Concepts Alternative Analysis
• Task 6 - Rough Order of Magnitude (planning level) Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA)

Responses must be submitted electronically via the OpenGov system at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/h-gac before the deadline of **December 10, 2026, 12:00 pm**. Submissions must be in PDF or Excel format ONLY where indicated and uploaded to the designated section. Documents uploaded into incorrect sections or other formats may be deemed non-responsive and the submission rejected. Additionally, zip files are not allowed.

The system will close automatically at the specified time, and late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. Respondents may modify submissions that have already been submitted, before the deadline.

Respondents must submit questions by the Questions deadline indicated in this Solicitation. Telephone/email inquiries are not accepted. All clarifications will be available in the Question and Answer and/or Addenda Sections in OpenGov.