Site work and paving for a road / highway in San Antonio, Texas. Conceptual plans call for site work for a road / highway; and for paving for a road / highway.

The USDOT Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Planning Grant aims to improve walkability, safety, and affordable transportation access through context-sensitive strategies, and address existing transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity or negative impacts on the human or natural environment, especially in disadvantaged or underserved communities. Awarded to the City of San Antonio in 2024, the NAE will assess the feasibility of design solutions to mitigate Interstate Highway 37 (between Houston Street and Carolina Street) to reconnect the Eastside with Downtown and Hemisfair. The City seeks a qualified consultant to facilitate community engagement, assess existing conditions, develop alternative concepts, and analyze feasibility. The contract duration is throughout the project completion (Estimated June 2026) and is not-toexceed the contract value of approximately $3.7 million. Scope Of Work and General Requirements History The Eastside is a diverse community with a rich cultural heritage and a history of displacement. Before the 1900s, the area was home to the city's largest concentration of African American residents, including minority-owned businesses and a thriving arts and music scene. The Eastside's dense and interconnected street network links historic streetcar neighborhoods, employment areas, and amenities, supporting local quality of life. Early development of blocks and roads between the 1890s and 1940s reflected a time when more shopping, recreation, and work occurred closer to home, often without the use of a car. The transportation system emphasized the streetcar network and neighborhood connections to the local streetcar network and downtown, although the area also included roads that connected San Antonio with communities to the east. In the 1930s, the area was redlined, the first step in isolating majority-minority communities. The construction of I-37 in the 1960s physically segregated the Eastside from Downtown, as local streets that once connected neighborhoods with destinations were severed by a new limited-access facility. Existing Conditions Today, I-37 has four main lanes in each direction. Within the study area, pedestrians have three options for crossing I-37: 1) an isolated and uninviting crossing under I-37 at Montana Street, 2) a poorly lit crossing over Montana Street but under I-37 that is hard to reach for Eastside residents and provides circuitous access between the Alamodome and the Tower of the Americas, and 3) a poorly lit and uninviting crossing under I-37 at Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard. Additionally, there are no sidewalks east of I-37 on the northbound frontage road from Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard to Montana Street. I-37 was constructed on berms, creating both a physical and visual barrier and making each of these crossings feel cavernous and isolated. According to the SA Tomorrow Eastside Community Area Plan, the area has the lowest number of vehicles owned per capita in San Antonio, and with some of the lowest per capita household incomes in the city, area residents on average have the least capacity to afford car ownership. Today, an average of 83 percent of Eastside residents are ethnic minorities, and approximately half are low-income, much higher than the regional average of 20 percent. SA Tomorrow Plan The SA Tomorrow Downtown Area Regional Center Plan, adopted in December 2019, recommended developing stronger connections to character-defining features and other areas outside the Downtown core by addressing barriers created by major infrastructure. Some of the I-37 accessibility burdens identified through extensive public involvement in the Downtown Regional Center Plan include: o Dark and uninviting spaces in underpasses. o Obstructed views due to construction on berms. o Safety concerns for people walking and biking across and along I-37. o Unwelcoming environment of fast speeds. o Need for improved crossings of I-37 and Commerce Street, Cesar Chavez Boulevard, Caroline Street, and Florida Street. Purpose The City of San Antonio was awarded a planning grant through the USDOT Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) program. The NAE grant will fund a Study on how to better connect Downtown San Antonio to the historically underserved Eastside community. The objective of this solicitation is to identify a qualified consultant to conduct community engagement, evaluate existing conditions, and develop and analyze solutions to reconnect neighborhoods and destinations across I-37. The study will result in a feasible, community-driven plan which: o Reconnects neighborhoods through accessible pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements and public space, in accordance with the SA Tomorrow Downtown Regional Center Plan. o Reduces or eliminates safety conflicts between vehicles, people on bikes, and people on foot when crossing I-37. o Creates outcomes that reduce or eliminate existing inequities and advance accessibility and inclusion. o Connects the Eastside to destinations such as the Convention Center and Hemisfair in a seamless urban experience with a strong, district-specific brand identity. o Mitigates the environmental impacts of I-37 including air, water, and noise pollution and the urban heat island effect in accordance with the SA Climate Action Plan. o Supports and complements the long-term safety and functionality of I-37 as the primary north-south connection through the city, region, and state. In achieving these objectives, the study will integrate with other ongoing and emerging work efforts, such as the proposed Tower Park improvements in Hemisfair. Consultant will be required to coordinate with related urban design and transportation planning initiatives by the City and State as they may evolve over time. Public Engagement and Outreach Consultant will develop and undertake a Community Participation Plan that meaningfully engages community stakeholders to develop a vision for reconnecting the Eastside to Downtown. The Community Participation Plan will be coordinated with Council District 2 and shall include but not be limited to: multilingual communications, online and intercept surveys, one-on-one stakeholder interviews to include area neighborhood associations, presentations to existing groups and organizations, public workshops, a design charrette, door-to-door outreach to low-income and minority stakeholders, and outreach at community events. Engagement efforts should consider and overcome barriers to participation, such as access to childcare or transportation. The Community Participation Plan should also be informed by U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation DecisionMaking. Existing Conditions The focus area for this project runs along Interstate Highway 37 from Houston Street to Carolina Street, with Downtown to the west and the Eastside to the east. Today, I-37 and the parallel Union Pacific Railroad create physical obstacles with a significant footprint and high-speed traffic. While I-37 is adjacent to publicly owned amenities including the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Hemisfair, the Tower of the Americas, and the Alamodome, direct community access to and from the Eastside is hindered by the highway The Consultant will assess existing conditions to understand how the current infrastructure supports people traversing the focus area on foot, on bike, or other methods without an automobile. Alternative Concepts Based on community vision and existing conditions, Consultant will prepare several alternative concepts to enhance neighborhood connectivity through infrastructure improvements in the focus area. One alternative concept should consider a deck park connecting Hemisfair to the near Eastside and Alamodome over I-37. Other alternative concepts will show increased connectivity that prioritizes the safety and comfort of pedestrians, without a deck park over the highway. All concepts should expand green space for activation and use by the community and major events. Alternatives Evaluation Consultant will evaluate feasibility of each concept, to include preliminary design, engineering, and cost. The study should culminate with a preferred concept to be used in pursuit of construction grants, and a phased implementation strategy which allows the first phase to advance into design and construction within 1 year. An Equity Assessment which examines demographics, income, educational attainment, health indicators, housing, digital inclusion, and mobility will be conducted for each alternative proposed. Anticipated Deliverables Consultant will provide a final report and executive summary presentation that summarizes the findings from the public outreach, existing conditions, and most relevant concept alternatives. Generally, information should be presented with text and graphics understandable to both the general public and professionals. Graphics should include tables, charts, and maps, as well as basic 3-dimensional representations of concept alternatives and massing. Additionally, graphics and other information should depict changes in modal networks, travel patterns, etc. Visualizations should be accessible to a diverse audience and be useable as an outreach and engagement tool in future phases. Oversight and Budget The City will appoint a subcommittee that includes representatives from the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation (HPARC), neighborhood association leadership from the four neighborhoods represented in the study area, as well as economic development corporations and foundations that work in the study area. The subcommittee will also include leadership from anchor tenants and the primary landowners: the City, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), and VIA Metropolitan Transit (VIA). Budget Activity Total Public Engagement and Outreach $500,000 Existing Conditions $500,000 Alternative Concept Analysis $2,020,000 Alternatives Evaluation $680,000 $3,700,000 [$2,960,000 NAE funds, $740,000 City funds] Professional architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) and structural engineering services shall include but not limited to the following services: o Development of conceptual design plans or presentation graphics as negotiated; o Programming to determine priorities, adjacencies best use space and development of detailed space needs analysis based on priorities and input from clients; o Sustainable building practices and energy conservation; o Schematic design including renderings; o Design development; o Coordination with utility purveyors to establish all necessary connections as well as to ensure a seamless design and avoid disruptions to customer services and events; o Construction documents and specifications; o Opinions of probable costs at the end of each design phase that stays within the established budget; o Interior design such as furniture layout, finishes, signage, wayfinding etc.; o Assure conformance to Unified Development Codes and the client's standards; o Coordination and assistance with obtaining all applicable permits and ensuring adherence to code requirements as required for the construction of the project; o Bidding phase services such as attend pre-bid/bid opening/pre-construction meetings, draft and review bid addendums, and perform bid/proposal review as necessary to include bid recommendations to the City; o Construction administration to include periodic field visits to assess construction progress, answering of contractor requests for information, review of change orders, coordinating construction progress meetings with the contractor, preparing, and distributing meeting minutes, reviewing contractor schedules, and other construction phase services; o Project closeout and punch list; o Other duties as typically provided by standard architectural and engineering practices; o Other services as required by the City's Design Guidance Manual. A copy of the Design Guidance Manual can be found at webiste. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS The following tentative schedule has been prepared for this project: First day contributions are prohibited: October 25, 2024 Evaluation of Proposals - (Interviews, if necessary) December 2024 Anticipated City Council Consideration March 2025 PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE Respondents who join the WebEx Pre-Submittal Conference are required to sign into the meeting using a QR code provided only during the meeting. This will confirm Respondent's attendance and participation for the Pre-Submittal meeting through WebEx. Respondent is encouraged to submit written questions concerning this RFQ through the Civcast website at least five (5) calendar days in advance of the Pre-Submittal Conference, in order to expedite the proceedings. City's responses to questions received by this due date may be distributed at the Pre-Submittal Conference, as well as being posted on the online. The deadline to ask questions is 11/06/2024 4:00 PM CST Any oral responses provided by City staff at the Pre-Submittal Conference shall be preliminary. A written summary of the Pre-Submittal Conference shall contain City's official responses to issues raised during the Pre-Submittal Conference and posted on the Civcast website. Any oral response given at the Pre-Submittal Conference that is not confirmed in the posted written summary from the Pre-Submittal Conference or in a subsequent addendum shall not be official or binding on City. Only written responses shall be official. All other forms of communication with any officer, employee or agent of City shall not be binding on City. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Follow submittal instructions on website. Hard copies of submittals sent by facsimile or email will not be accepted. Please adhere to the following criteria: o Pages equal front only o No smaller than 11-point font. o Be succinct and clear. o Keep your submittal relevant to the target project. o Each submittal shall include the sections and attachments in the sequence listed in the Section V, Submittal Document Requirements & Evaluation Criteria, with each section divided by tabs and indexed, as indicated in this RFQ. o All pages shall be numbered, and all sections shall adhere to page limits. If a section does not have a page limit specified, there are no page limits for that section. To correctly submit a response to this RFQ, Respondent shall reveal, disclose and state the true and correct name of the individual, proprietorship, corporation and/or partnership (clearly identifying the responsible general partner and all other partners who would be associated with the contract, if any) submitting the response. The true and correct name shall comport exactly with the corporate and franchise records of the Texas Secretary of State and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Individuals and proprietorships, if operating under other than an individual name, shall match with exact Assumed Name filings. Corporate Respondents and limited liability company Respondents shall include the 11-digit Comptroller's Taxpayer Number on the signature page of the Proposal. Co-Respondents are two (2) or more entities proposing as a team or joint venture with each signing the contract, if awarded. Sub-contractors are not Co-Respondents and should not be identified here. If you are conducting business in Texas, it is likely you will have to register your business with the State Comptroller. Depending on the type of business you conduct, you may also be required to obtain a permit, collect and or pay tax, and file tax returns.) (If Respondent/Co-Respondents are not registered with the Texas Secretary of State, please note the City of San Antonio requires Respondents selected for award of a contract register with the Texas Secretary of State. Changes to the registered agent or registered office information must always be filed with the Texas Secretary of State and comply with applicable statutory requirements. A sole proprietor, conducting business under an assumed name (a name other than the surname of the individual), shall file an assumed name certificate with the Office of the Bexar County Clerk. Any associated costs, fees or expenses should be considered in Respondent's price proposal.) Respondent must comply with the Restrictions on Communication section of this RFQ and shall not provide full or partial copies of its submission to City officials or City employees, as defined by that section. Failure to submit a submittal in accordance with the prescribed process will result in Respondent's submittal being disqualified from consideration.