Mr. Roberto Canales, P.E., Congestion Management Engineer, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Traffic Engineering Branch, P.O. Box 25201, Raleigh, NC 27611-5201

Y -- NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: CARAT TMS PRE-ADVERTISEMENT CONFERENCE The North Carolina Department of Transportation is preparing contract documents for the first phase of the I-77 Congestion Avoidance and Reduction for Autos and Trucks (CARAT) Traffic Management System (TMS) project in Charlotte, NC. CARAT, a Federal Highway Administration funded project, will be implemented using design-build contracting procedures in which a single entity selected by the NCDOT shall be responsible for the design, construction, and extended warranty of the CARAT TMS. The design of the CARAT TMS shall be based on functional specifications prepared by the NCDOT. The first phase of the CARAT TMS will consist of an approximate plus/minus 15-mile section of I-77 from north of the I-85/I-77 interchange to the South Carolina state line. The project to be designed and constructed will include a new traffic control center building (approximately 14,000 square feet in size) with computer hardware and software that is to be procured and/or developed by the selected team. The system shall also include the design and construction of a communication system to operate an integrated Advanced Traffic Management System and Advanced Traveller Information System (ATMS/ATIS). The ATMS/ATIS will include the following field components: Vehicle detection devices; Existing changeable message signs; Truck Rollover system, Fuel tax enforcement system; On- and off-freeway video surveillance; Weigh-In-Motion with video enforcement system, Air quality testing system. The Design/Build/Warrant (D/B/W) contract will include an extended performance bond/warranty period of two years to ensure that the CARAT system reliably meet the functional requirements and that all system components are defect free. The selection of the design-build team shall be based upon numerous criteria including the qualifications of the team, the proposed technical approach, and design/construction cost. The D/B/W selection process will include the following steps: PRE-ADVERTISEMENT CONFERENCE - This conference will provide design-builders with the opportunity to discuss and offer comments concerning the project schedule, the criteria necessary to be considered qualified by NCDOT to perform the CARAT TMS D/B/W project, the proposal evaluation process, and the extended warranty. Attendance at this conference is not considered mandatory, but is encouraged for firms who intend to submit a statement of qualifications. REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS - A request for qualifications will be advertised to invite teams to submit their qualifications. These qualifications will be evaluated by the Department. Oral presentations of the qualifications may be required. Teams determined by the Department to be qualified will be invited to submit a technical proposal. REQUEST FOR TECHNICAL AND COST PROPOSALS - Technical proposals describing the team's proposed project approach will be requested from the pre-qualified teams. The proposers will be instructed to prepare their proposals in a manner such that the proposing team is anonymous to the reviewers. The teams will be asked to submit their cost proposal under separate cover. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS - The proposals will be logged and processed to allow for anonymous review. The technical proposals will be evaluated and scored prior to the opening of the cost proposals. The contract will be awarded to the responsive proposer with the best composite technical and cost score. A pre-advertisement conference for the CARAT D/B/W project will be held on July 18, 1995 at 1:30 PM in Room 150 of the NCDOT Transportation Building located at 1 South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, North Carolina. Attendance at this conference is not considered mandatory, but is encouraged. If you are interested in participating in the CARAT project, please submit a one-page letter of letter of interest by 5:00 PM July 18 to: Mr. Roberto Canales, P.E., Congestion Management Engineer, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Traffic Engineering Branch, P.O. Box 25201, Raleigh, NC 27611-5201. Letters of interest may be faxed to 919/250-4195. Firms submitting a letter of interest will receive a project overview and additional information regarding the CARAT project. Firms are asked to review this information prior to the pre-advertisement conference. The information will be sent to firms submitting a letter of interest via U.S. mail. Firms who wish to receive this information via express delivery are requested to include their Federal Express account number in their letter of interest. (184)

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