Co-Development Agreement (CDA) RFQ

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (“Authority”) has issued a Co-Development Agreement (“CDA”) Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) with a successful Respondent (a “Co-Development Partner”) to further advance commercial, technical, and financial solutions for the phased delivery of the California High-Speed Rail Program (“Program”) that will best achieve the Program goals.

This procurement strategy seeks to engage a private partner to evaluate opportunities to leverage private sector innovation, expertise, capital, and efficiency in design, construction, systems integration, finance, operations, and maintenance for one or more segments or elements of the Program.

In collaboration with the CDP, the strategy aims to develop a flexible, phased delivery solution offering multiple delivery method options and appropriately tailored risk and responsibility allocation. Additionally, it seeks to accelerate schedules and simplify administration through a master developer approach, while maximizing competition by requiring the CDP to conduct competitive procurements (in collaboration with the Authority) for key subcontracts under each Development Agreement package as directed by the Authority or required by state or federal law.

The CDA will establish a framework for a collaboration and negotiations process for the Authority and the CDP to identify potential packages for development from concepts to full public-private partnership agreement(s).

Tentative Schedule

• Release of RFQ: December 19, 2025
• Pre-Bid Date: January 6, 2026
• SOQ Due Date: March 4, 2026
• Identification of Selected Respondent (Notice of Proposed Award): Q1/Q2 2026
• Award and Execution of CDA: Q2 2026

The RFQ is available to download from the California State Contracts Register (CSCR). Updates, including responses to written questions and any RFQ addenda, will be provided on the CSCR.”

Procurement Approach

The Authority will issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) that will contain a description of the opportunity and instructions to Respondents, including a description of the selection process and evaluation criteria.

Each Respondent team must include a lead developer, equity members, a lead A&E firm, and a train operator.

Authority’s Small Business Program

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.

Conflict of Interest

To avoid organizational conflicts of interest, prime firm(s) awarded the CDA RFQ cannot also be awarded contracts that create an organizational conflict of interest.

If you have questions about potential organizational conflicts of interest, please review the Authority’s Organizational Conflict of Interest Policy at the following link and submit queries and/or a request for an Organizational Conflict of Interest determination to the Authority’s Chief Counsel at legal@hsr.ca.gov, expressly referencing the CDA RFQ.