Professional Services for Communications & Public Involvement On-Call

Location:	Nebraska
Posted:	Dec 3, 2025
Due:	Dec 24, 2025
Agency:	State of Nebraska - Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	99 - Miscellaneous R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Solicitation No:	RFQ-2524
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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RFQ-2524

Request for Qualifications

Professional Services for Communications &

Public Involvement On-Call

December 3, 2025

Statements of Qualifications are due by Wednesday, December 24, 2025, 1:00 P.M.

GENERAL

In accordance with Nebraska Consultants’ Competitive Negotiation Act (Neb. Rev. Stat.

§81-1702), the Brooks Act (40 USC 1101), and 23 CFR 172.5, the State of Nebraska,

Department of Transportation (NDOT), is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for

Communications & Public Involvement On-Call Services. Qualified consultants are invited to

submit a statement of qualifications as outlined below. NDOT’s website referred to in this

document is located at: http://www.dot.nebraska.gov/business-center/consultant/

All consultants interested in providing professional services for NDOT are strongly

encouraged to review NDOT’s template IDIQ Master On-Call PE Agreement, IDIQ Task

Order Agreement, Sample Fees and Payments Exhibit, and Insurance Requirements for

Professional Service Providers prior to responding to this RFQ. By submitting a statement of

qualifications in response to this RFQ, Consultant, and all subconsultants, agree to meet the

substantive requirements of these documents. These documents can be found on NDOT’s

website. An agreement will not be executed unless consultant provides a current overhead

(indirect cost rate) schedule and proof of meeting the insurance requirements in the form of

an Insurance ACORD. Further information regarding insurance, including a checklist to

assist in submitting an acceptable certificate, can be found at

https://dot.nebraska.gov/business-center/consultant/insurance/.

This RFQ does not commit NDOT to award a contract, to pay any costs incurred in the

preparation of a response to this request, or to procure or contract for services. NDOT

reserves the right to award contracts to more than one qualified consultant, to accept or reject

any or all responses received as a result of this request, to negotiate with any qualified

consultant or to modify or cancel in part or in its entirety the RFQ, if it is in the best interest of

NDOT to do so.

In accordance with Nebraska Revised Statute 84-712 et.seq., Nebraska Public Records Act,

documents provided to NDOT are public records subject to disclosure unless consultant

requests in writing that documents must be kept confidential and can demonstrate that such

records are confidential under federal or state law.

Required Title VI Non-discrimination General Assurance

The Nebraska Department of Transportation, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of

the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and the

Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders/offerors that it will affirmatively insure {ensure} that

any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises

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RFQ-2524

will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be

discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an

award.

STANDARD WORK CATEGORIES

Standard Work Categories anticipated on this project are listed below. Consultant/team must

be certified in the following Standard Work Categories. Information regarding the Standard

Work Categories can be found on NDOT’s website.

211 Public Involvement

SCOPE OF SERVICES

1. OVERVIEW OF THE WORK

The Consultant would provide public involvement (PI) support services for NDOT projects

as assigned. The Consultant shall serve as the agent for NDOT, representing NDOT in

all matters related to the public involvement services needed for a project. Specific work

activities could include:

A. Project Management and QA/QC

B. Public Involvement Support Services:

1) Mailers:

a) Public Notification

b) Project Information Packet

2) Public Meetings:

a) Public Information Meetings

b) Public Hearings

c) Stakeholder Meetings

C. Other services:

1) Pre-construction and construction outreach

2) Public Meeting Presentations, Documents, and Fact Sheets

3) Displays including but not limited to renderings, animations, maps, etc.

4) Communications Division special projects such as Department initiatives, social

media planning, writing, special event logistics and execution, etc.

2. QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

A. The Consultant team shall demonstrate familiarity with PI’s role in NDOT’s planning,

project delivery, pre-construction and construction processes including NEPA.

B. The Consultant shall have education, training, working knowledge of, and experience

in the preparation and coordination of the NDOT PI process.

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RFQ-2524

C. The Consultant team shall provide examples of successful PI performed for federal aid

and non-federal aid Transportation projects, to include PI performed for other state

DOTs for project delivery, pre-construction and construction.

D. Work shall be done in accordance with the most current version of the following

materials. The most current versions of the NDOT materials can be obtained from the

NDOT website.

1) Nebraska Public Involvement Procedures

2) State and/or Federal laws/regulations

3) Other specific knowledge required based on the service to be

provided

a. PI staff dedicated to public involvement and transportation communications.

b. Office located in close proximity to NDOT Headquarters in Lincoln, NE.

3. SOFTWARE AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

A. Reports and documents must be submitted in a form compatible with Microsoft Office

and Adobe products unless otherwise directed.

B. Must have the ability to create 3D and 2D modeling for project renderings.

C. Ability to participate in virtual meetings and have equipment to carry out townhalls,

stakeholder meetings, and small team meetings virtually.

4. EXPECTATIONS FOR THE DELIVERABLES

A. Major Submittals can include Project Schedule, Monthly Invoices including Progress

Reports, Meeting Minutes, Meeting Planning, Meeting Document/Map Preparation,

Public Information Activity, Postal Outreach, and Public Involvement Memos/Reports,

as needed.

B. Must adhere to a set schedule based on the project(s) assigned.

C. Electronic copy of materials required for all submittals.

D. All materials submitted must be in accordance with the Nebraska Public Involvement

Procedure and NDOT Brand Book.

E. Documents and communications must be accurately translated into other languages, if

required, in accordance with Civil Rights Office review.

DETAILS

It is anticipated that five (5) consultants will be shortlisted for further interview discussions,

with three (3) consultants awarded contracts under the Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity

(IDIQ) or "on-call" procurement process. The evaluation criteria to be used for the short-

listing and final selection are outlined below.

The proposed three-year contract term will have a maximum value of $750,000 for each

consultant awarded a contract. The contract term may be extended up to 6 months at the

discretion of NDOT. Typical Task Orders that will be awarded under this IDIQ contract will

range from $5,000 to $100,000. The payment method for the individual Task Order

Agreements may be Cost Plus Fixed Fee, Lump Sum, or Specific Rates of Compensation.

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RFQ-2524

NDOT reserves the right to abandon or terminate any contract at any time and either

re-advertise services or utilize its own forces. NDOT also reserves the right to

accomplish services for future phases on all projects with the selected consultant,

select another consultant, or utilize its own forces.

NDOT will not hold a briefing. All information is contained within this RFQ and on NDOT’s

website. If additional information is deemed necessary, it will be posted on the same web

page as this RFQ and will be labeled as an update. Consultants interested in this RFQ are

responsible for checking for updated information.

Interested consultants must be certified by NDOT or have a completed certification form on

file with NDOT prior to the deadline identified in the Schedule of Activities. Instructions for

completing the NDOT Annual Consultant Certification form is available at:

https://dot.nebraska.gov/media/g1qb344b/cert-instruc-annual-certification.pdf

Please submit your Drug-Free Workplace Policy (DF Policy) separate from the response to

this RFQ (DF Policy Example). The DF Policy is a one-time submittal to NDOT. Please do

not re-submit unless your DF Policy has changed or you never have previously submitted a

DF Policy. While the DF Policy is not a submittal requirement, all consultants must have an

acceptable DF Policy on file prior to the deadline identified in the Schedule of Activities. If

necessary, the consultant’s DF Policy may be submitted via email to:

NDOT.PDAnnualCertification@nebraska.gov

Please do not call or write NDOT staff for information regarding the services in this

RFQ.

Email all inquiries/questions to NDOT Procurement Engineer, at:

ndot.pdRFQinfo@nebraska.gov or call (402) 479-4778.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

A. QUALIFICATIONS (50 PTS)

1. Qualifications of the consultant, subconsultants, and key team members to perform

the services described in the Scope of Services.

2. Consultant has demonstrated they will allocate appropriate and sufficient staff

resources or qualified subconsultants to meet Public Involvement objectives and

schedules.

3. Knowledge of applicable federal regulations, and State and Federal procedures

related to providing Public Involvement services, particularly as they apply to

NEPA.

B. PERFORMANCE DATA (10 PTS)

1. Cooperation, communication, and timeliness of deliverables with NDOT on

previous projects. If the consultant’s team has no experience with NDOT, the

consultant should include three (3) references in their response, including contact

information, that has directly been involved with similar services.

2. The consultant’s team has displayed the ability to produce Public Involvement

materials with minimal revision.

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RFQ-2524

C. UNDERSTANDING OF THE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED (40 pts)

1. Consultant demonstrated they understand nature and scope of the projects to be

assigned under this on-call agreement.

2. The consultant has recognized and identified special circumstances to be

considered for the projects.

3. Consultant provided a logical approach to complete tasks and resolve issues of the

project.

4. Consultant’s knowledge and understanding of Public Involvement services

outlined in this RFQ.

Final Selection

The Department may conduct interviews/discussions with the short-listed firms to further

understand the evaluation criteria responses, and to hear how each firm can best meet the

needs of NDOT related to these services. A final tally of evaluation criteria scoring will occur

at the conclusion of interview discussions. NDOT will coordinate interview discussions with

each short-listed firm to occur within the scheduled dates shown below.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

Date (2025-26) Time (CST)

RFQ posted

December 3, 10, 17

Last day questions will be accepted

December 10

4:00 PM

Last day Q&A or updates to RFQ may be posted

December 17

4:00 PM

NDOT Form 497 & Drug-Free Workplace Policy on file at NDOT December 24

1:00 PM

Statement of Qualifications Due

December 24

1:00 PM

Post Short-List Consultants & Interview Schedule

Interview Discussions

January 7, 2026 4:00 PM

January 13, 2026

10:30 AM –

12:00 PM

Post Final Selections

January 16, 2026 4:00 PM

NOTE – Shortlisted Firms may be asked to provide verification that they and all subconsultants have

submitted their indirect cost rates and certifications for their latest fiscal year. Latest fiscal year means

the last fiscal year with an end date no more than 6 months in the past.

IDIQ ORDERING PROCEDURES

When ordering specific on-call design services NDOT will consider each selected

consultant’s statement of qualifications along with any performance data on file with

NDOT. The selection of a consultant will be based upon the following criteria:

1. Professional qualifications of the firm

2. Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required

3. Past performance of similar type of work

4. Capacity of firm to perform the work in a timely manner

Upon selection, NDOT will prepare a Task Order Agreement that will incorporate the

provisions of the Master Agreement by reference and include some or all of the following

performance details:

1. Detailed scope of work

2. Detailed description of deliverables

3. Description of performance/quality measures

4. Timeline for delivery of services

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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Professional Services for Communications & Public Involvement On-Call

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See also