The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) has identified Dragados/Flatiron/Shimmick as the apparent best value team for the design-build contract for the next 65-mile segment from Fresno to North of Bakersfield.

The Authority has estimated the cost of the segment, Construction Package 2-3 (CP 2-3), to be between $1.5 billion to $2 billion. The Authority determined that Dragados/Flatiron/Shimmick, who bid $1.2 billion, was the “apparent best value.” The ranking and scores for all three proposals are attached.

The segment will extend in excess of 65 miles from the terminus of Construction Package 1 at East American Avenue in Fresno to one mile north of the Kern-Tulare County line. The project includes approximately 36 grade separations in the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kings, including viaducts, underpasses and overpasses.

“Today is a significant milestone as we continue building the nation’s first high-speed rail system,” said Authority CEO Jeff Morales. “The proposals underscore the value of world class competition and the design-build approach to deliver high-speed rail in California.”

In the competitive bidding process, three teams submitted proposals to the Authority for the design-build contract. Design-build combines project design and construction into 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 capacity, project approach and safety were part of the technical scoring.

In October 2013, the Authority issued a Request for Qualifications for potential design-build teams interested in the contract. Five teams were qualified and began competing for the contract. On October 30, 2014, three teams submitted their proposals, which were reviewed by an evaluation panel comprised of California state personnel.

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.

For more information on the procurement process for the design-build contract, visit http://www.hsr.ca.gov/Programs/Construction/Design_Build_Construction_Pkg_2_3/index.html.