The California High-Speed Rail Authority identified Tutor Perini/Zachry/Parsons, a joint venture, as the best scoring team for the design-build contract to begin construction of the first section of the high-speed rail system from Madera to Fresno.

The authority had estimated the cost for the design-build contract to be between $1.2 billion and $1.8 billion and determined that Tutor Perini/Zachry/Parsons, who bid $985,142,530, was the “apparent best value.” The ranking and score of all five proposals can be viewed here.

"Today is a significant milestone,” said Jeff Morales, CEO of the California High-speed Rail Authority. “We received proposals from five world class teams and are moving forward to deliver a world class program. It’s time to get to work in the Central Valley and create thousands of jobs.”

In the competitive bidding process, five teams submitted proposals for the first design-build contract. Design-build combines project design and construction in a single contract. The proposals were evaluated and ranked based on 30% for technical merit and 70% for cost. Factors such as an understanding of the project, schedule capability, project approach and safety were part of the technical scoring.

In November 2011, the authority issued a Request for Qualification for potential design-build teams interested in the contract. Five teams met the threshold and began competing for the contract. In January 2013, the five teams submitted their proposals, which were objectively reviewed by an evaluation panel comprised of California state personnel.

The design-build contract will include the authority’s adopted 30% goal for small business participation in the work.

The authority will continue to work through the ongoing procurement process and a contract will be presented to the Authority’s board of directors in the coming weeks.

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