1. Introduction

The Oklahoma Transportation Center (OTC) requests proposals for research on topics vital to solving some of the pressing transportation problems in Oklahoma and in the nation.

The OTC is a multi-disciplinary coalition of the Oklahoma State University (OSU), the University of Oklahoma (OU), and Langston University (LU) to serve as a resource for solving critical transportation problems in the state and in the nation in a cooperative manner. Founded in 2001, the OTC has over 30 “founding partners” including Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oklahoma Transportation Authority (OTA), and companies and associations representing all transportation modes.

2. Eligibility

Any full-time faculty member at OSU, OU, or LU, or a full-time staff member in any individual OSU, OU or LU Transportation Center is eligible to submit a proposal. The University with which the principal investigator is affiliated must officially process all proposals.

3. Size and Scope of Projects

Approximately $35,000 is available for this RFP with an anticipated duration of six months. Interim report will be due by September 1, 2005.

The main objective of the owner of a construction project, the engineer that designs it, and the contractor that builds it is a quality product on time and within budget. Engineering design is an important part of the construction process because it ensures that the owner is getting a product that meets its needs, and it provides the contractor with the plans to carry it out. The owner and the design engineer want to negotiate a design fee that fairly compensates the engineer and results in value to the owner.

Numerous methods exist for determining engineering design fees. Hourly rate, lump sum, and percent of construction cost are common methods used to determine the compensation that will be paid to a design consultant for its services on a project. The method that is most applicable to a particular construction project is the one that fairly compensates the engineer for a quality design that requires minimal allowance by contractors for contingencies and that results in nominal cost overruns and change orders.

In calculating an engineering design fee for a particular construction project, difficulty soon arises when attempting to clearly define the exact scope of the design effort. In many cases, the scope cannot be determined until a preliminary amount of testing and design work is completed. Flexibility in arriving at a design fee that is fair and equitable to the owner and the consulting firm should be allowed in order to account for uncertainty in the scope until the project is more clearly defined.

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals to evaluate the different ways that engineering design fees are calculated and negotiated on construction projects, and to recommend methods that best lend themselves to construction projects. The types of construction projects that are of primary concern are those for the rehabilitation or reconstruction of bridges and roadways on four-lane divided highways.

4. Proposal Format

Each proposal should be limited to ten pages, with line spacing not less than 1.5 and font size Times New Roman 12 point or equivalent. One-inch margin should be maintained on all sides. The following outline must be followed: (1) Problem Statement; (2) Research Approach and Methodology; (3) Expected Results; (4) Deliverables; (5) Qualifications; (6) Facilities; (7) Itemized Budget (including indirect costs); (8) Budget Justification, and (9) Time Schedule. A phased proposal may be considered if the deliverables for the first phase are clearly delineated and an outline of other phases and anticipated budgets are presented. All proposals must have institutional approval (appropriately routed) for submission.

5. Deadline

All proposals must be submitted on or before June 28, 2005 by 5:00 p.m. An electronic (MS Word) copy (CD) and two hard copies must be submitted to:

Daniel Humphrey
Project Engineer
Oklahoma Transportation Authority
3500 Martin Luther King Ave.
P.O. Box 11357
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0357

6. Selection Process and Criteria

The proposals will be reviewed and ranked by the OTC Executive Committee. Additional reviews by others may be solicited, as needed. The following criteria will be used in selecting the proposals:
(i) Research approach and scope
(ii) Qualifications of the research team

The OTC may ask the Principal Investigator of a selected proposal to revise the proposed budget and work scope, if necessary, depending upon the availability of funds and review outcome. Also, the number of proposals selected for funding will depend upon the availability of funds, quality of proposals and other factors.

7. Consultation Prior to Submitting Proposal

OTC strongly suggests proposal writers to consult with appropriate technical and operations personnel at ODOT and OTA prior to preparing and submitting proposals. Also, OTC encourages partnerships with industry (in kind and/or cash match), OTC institutions (OSU, OU, and LU), and with public agencies apart from ODOT and OTA. Collaborations are encouraged.

For questions regarding the submission and review of proposals, please contact: Daniel Humphrey, Oklahoma Transportation Authority, Phone: (405) 425-3600, E-Mail: dhumphrey@ota.state.ok.us For additional information on OTC please visit http://www.oktc.org.