Rail Systems Engineering Services

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) anticipates issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Rail Systems Engineering Services. These services were previously being procured under RFQ HSR22-35, which was cancelled without award of a contract.

Offerors who previously submitted a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for RFQ HSR22-35 must submit an SOQ for HSR23-21 by the SOQ deadline to be considered. Interested parties should read RFQ HSR23-21 in its entirety, as changes have been made since RFQ HSR22-35.

The purpose of this procurement is to enter into an agreement with a consultant to provide professional services to the Authority including rail systems engineering, system certification oversight, network integration support, start-up and commissioning, FRA certification, verification and validation of design requirements, commercial and technical support of rail systems contracts.

The anticipated schedule for this procurement is as follows:

• RFQ Release: July 25, 2023
• Virtual Pre-Bid Conference and Small Business Workshop: July 31, 2023
  • Registration List
  • Rail Systems Engineering Services Pre-Bid Presentation
  • Small Business Workshop Presentation
  • Video of Pre-Bid Conference
  • Video of Small Business Workshop
• SOQ Due Date: September 18, 2023
• Notice of Proposed Award: October 2023
• Contract Execution and Notice to Proceed: November 2023

The RFQ is available to download from the California State Contracts Register (CSCR).

Updates, including responses to written questions, and any addenda will be provided on the CSCR.

Visit the Authority’s Small Business Program webpage for information including a program overview, certifications we recognize, how to get certified, access to our vendor registry, and more.

To avoid organizational conflicts of interest, prime firm(s) awarded the Rail Systems Engineering Services contract cannot also be awarded the future track and/or systems contract(s), the future trainsets contract, or the future contract for construction management services for rail contracts. For more information, please submit questions and/or a request for an Organizational Conflict of Interest determination to the Authority’s Chief Counsel, Alicia Fowler, at Legal@hsr.ca.gov, referencing the Rail Systems Engineering Services RFQ.

Questions regarding this procurement should be submitted to Rachael Wong at RSES@hsr.ca.gov or (916) 324-1541.

Virtual Industry Forum

On October 24, 2022, the Authority hosted a Virtual Industry Forum for two procurements: Rail Systems Engineering Services and Construction Management Services for Rail Design-Build-Maintain Contracts. The forum included a program update, Small Business Program information, a procurements overview, an overview of the Authority’s Organizational Conflict of Interest Policy, and a live question-and-answer session. Please see the materials related to that forum for more information:

• Virtual Industry Forum Video
• Virtual Industry Forum PowerPoint Presentation
• Virtual Industry Forum List of Registrants
• Pre-RFQ Questions and Responses

(For information on the Construction Management Services for Rail Design-Build-Maintain Contracts procurement, visit CM for Rail DBM Contracts.)