Abilene Metropolitan Planning Organization General Planning Consultant (GPC) Services

NOTICE TO PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
The purpose of this procurement is making highly qualified Consultant resources available to the
Abilene MPO to support the MPO transportation planning activities described in the current FY 2026-
FY 2027 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The Abilene Metropolitan Planning Organization
(Abilene MPO) requests highly qualified consultants submit their qualifications for competitive
selection of professional transportation planning services on the following project:
Abilene MPO On-Call Performance-Based
Planning and Programming Process Enhancement

GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT REQUIREMENTS
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
A Metropolitan Transportation Plan is a 20-to-25-year roadmap for how to spend billions of dollars on
roads, transit, and other big projects - and once that money is spent, it's very hard to undo. The
problem is that nobody can reliably predict what the next 25 years will look like: Will most cars be
electric? Will people keep working from home? How fast will the population grow, and where? How
much worse will floods and heat waves get? How much money will actually come in? These aren't
questions you can answer with a confident guess, and the old way of planning - predict the single
most likely future and build for it - falls apart when that prediction turns out wrong, leaving the
region stuck with the wrong projects. Decision-Making under Deep Uncertainty (DMDU) flips the
approach: instead of betting everything on one forecast, it tests a bunch of possible plans against
hundreds of different "what if" futures, finds the exact situations where each plan would fail, and then
picks the plan that holds up reasonably well no matter what happens and can be adjusted later as the
real future comes into focus. That's why it makes sense as the backbone of building an MTP - it forces
planners to be honest about what could go wrong, it matches what federal rules now expect, and it
gives the public a clear, defensible record showing the chosen projects were tested against the many
futures the region might actually face, not just the one somebody hoped for.
The proposed length of contract is at least one (1) year up to $345,000 with the City of
Abilene/Abilene MPO having the option of adding three (3) additional one (1) year extensions
depending on available funding and consultant performance.* This contract is estimated to begin on
September 1, 2026. This contract shall be non-exclusive. The City of Abilene/Abilene MPO may
contract with more than one consultant.
TO RESPOND:
Proposers shall submit one (1) printed original hard copy and one (1) electronic copy submitted on a
portable storage device (e.g., USB flash drive) to the City of Abilene Purchasing Office by 4:00 p.m.
CST, Friday 31, 2026.
The complete General Planning Consultant (GPC) RFQ is available on the City of Abilene website,
https://www.abilenetx.gov.
The City of Abilene reserves the right to reject any and all proposals that are determined to be non-
responsive to this RFQ. Requests for clarification or inquiries about information contained in the RFQ
package must be submitted by email to purchasing@abilenetx.gov no later than 12:00 p.m. CST, on
Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The questions submitted, and the responses, will be posted no later than 5:00
p.m. CST, Tuesday, July 21st, 2026 on the City of Abilene website: https://www.abilenetx.gov.
All sealed proposals must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2026 in the City of
Abilene Purchasing Office, 555 Walnut St., Room 201A, Abilene, TX 79601.
*For funding beyond the current fiscal year, Abilene MPO reserves the right to immediately terminate this contract by giving
written notice without liability to the Abilene MPO or the City of Abilene, in the event that funding for this contract is
discontinued or is no longer available.

GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT REQUIREMENTS
ABILENE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT (GPC) SERVICES
RFQ #CB-2643
PROPOSED TITLE: Abilene MPO On-Call Performance-Based
Planning and Programming Process Enhancement
Proposals Due: 4:00 p.m. CST on Friday, July 31st, 2026
Purpose: The purpose of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is soliciting proposals from
professional consulting firms interested in providing continuing general transportation planning
consulting services for the Abilene Metropolitan Planning Organization (Abilene MPO). The
respondent(s) selected will have a broad range of experience in transportation planning, a clear
understanding of the Texas DOT performance-based planning and programming processes, an array
of options for community engagement and public involvement, and a variety of technical planning and
analysis skills.
Term of Contract: The total of the first year of contracts will be at least $345,000, the City of
Abilene/Abilene MPO reserves the unilateral option to renew contracts for up to three (3) additional
one (1) year $200,000/each extension to complete the 2050 MTP Update.
Submittal Evaluation: A subcommittee of the Technical Advisory Committee and Abilene MPO
staff will evaluate the proposals. They will use the following criteria:
* Aptitude with depicting data and interpreting analyses for elected officials and the various
publics.
* Superlative understanding of MPO planning and programming in Texas and knowledge of
FHWA PlanWorks.
* Demonstrated use of performance-based planning and multi-criteria analyses using advanced
processes such as Fuzzy AHP, Fuzzy TOPSIS, and LSP.
* Demonstrated knowledge of DMDU such as; DAPP, RDM, and the Info-Gap Principle.
* Previous success with both electronic and in-person communication and surveying of the
various publics.
* Mastery of public and private transportation data sources available in Texas.
* Previous successful completion of tasks and tools specified in the Scope of Work.
Scope of Work: The scope of services provided under this contract may cover the full range of
transportation planning and programming activities listed in current or future Abilene MPO Unified
Planning Work Programs or are required by Federal, State, and Regional processes for multimodal
transportation planning and project development. These activities include, but are not limited to:
Developing Transportation Analysis Zones, classifying the context of federally functionally classified
roads, identifying the readiness of federally functionally classified roads for TSMO, Safe System
Planning, developing scenarios of socio-economic distribution of control totals, crash analyses and
intervention effectiveness identification, non-motorized data collection and needs analyses, signal
coordination analyses, resiliency/vulnerability planning, transportation project life-cycle planning,
economic and feasibility analysis, public participation and surveys, financial and risk forecasting, and
traffic and travel modeling. Familiarity with the following or an equivalent is required: TMIP-EMAT,
Tredis, Aashtoware Safety, Vision-Zero Suite, Transmodeler, Social Pinpoint, HERS, Pavement ME,
Riverine HAZUS, QNSPECT, SWMM Model, and the Resilience and Disaster Recovery Tool.

GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT REQUIREMENTS
Provide specific examples of the work listed above performed by the people listed in the RFQ
irrespective of where they worked when the work was conducted. Anticipated work through the
contract(s) over the next three years is described in the FY 2026 - FY 2027 Unified Planning Work
Program, found here: https://www.abilenempo.org/site_images/files/documents/UPWP/ using the
process described here: https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworks/Home. Individual Work Orders
will be initiated based on conversations and negotiations with the firm(s) after they are selected.
Context: The current 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan was adopted in 2025. Saturation traffic
counts were conducted in 2025. The current TIP was adopted in 2026. The Governor approved the
new MPO Boundary in 2026. The Federal Functional Classification was updated in 2026. The Travel
Demand Model update is in its earliest stages. The regional COG will begin a 19-county SS4A plan in
2026. Dyess AFB is getting new missions. The Stargate AI project will finish phase 1 in 2026.
Map of: 2020 Census Urban Area, in green line is the 2012 MPO Planning Boundary, in White is the
new MPO Planning Area Boundary, and in Blue is the Abilene MSA.

GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT REQUIREMENTS
Federal Transportation Authorization laws require MPOs, transit agencies and State Departments of
Transportation to invest their federal resources in projects that achieve individual targets and
collectively make progress toward achieving the national goals. As a starting point, state DOT's and
MPOs must establish a benchmark, estimate the benefit from projects and policies, and then measure
the actual outcome. Monitoring these performance measures assists MPOs and DOTs in setting goals,
adjusting priorities, allocating resources, and developing policy.
Firm Qualifications and Capabilities: Consultant teams must demonstrate substantial prior
experience in providing similar services to Metropolitan Planning Organizations. Personnel involved
must possess the necessary professional skills and qualifications to perform the required services. All
work performed must follow both federal and state laws, procedures, and guidelines. The selected
firm(s) are responsible for knowledge of and compliance with all federal and state regulations. Only
firms qualified to conduct business in the State of Texas are considered.
Authorization/Contracting: The work of the Abilene MPO is directed by the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and Texas Statute Sections 201 and 472,
Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Abilene MPO's procurement process follows Statewide
Procurement Rules 34.TAC.20 and Texas Government Code, Chapters 2254, 252, 262, and 2155, as
appropriate. Please refer to Attachment 1 for the Federal Clauses.
Incurred Expenses: The MPO is not responsible for any costs incurred by Responders in preparing
and submitting a response to this RFQ, any oral presentation(s), providing demonstrations, or for any
other associated costs.
Multiple Proposals: A Responder may not submit as lead contractor on multiple proposals in
response to this solicitation. However, this does not preclude subcontractors from being on more than
one Responder's proposal.
Task Order Assignment: All services are performed at the direction and to the satisfaction of the
Abilene MPO. The consultant(s) will name a Designated Project Manager for coordination of contract
services. For each proposed task, the Abilene MPO will provide a project outline, desired deliverables,
and any preset deadlines. Using this information, the contracted Consultant(s) will have the
opportunity to provide a proposed approach, schedule, and cost. No work may be performed prior to
both parties reaching an agreement and the consultant receiving a formal 'Notice to Proceed" from the
Abilene MPO. The Abilene MPO reserves the right to assign tasks to the Consultant(s) based on
expertise, workload, and approach to requested services.
The Consultant(s) will be assigned work by Task Order. The Consultant(s) will submit invoices based
on the schedule of work and deliverables as approved in the Task Order. Invoices must detail the costs
incurred for services performed and a detailed progress report for each specific Task Order.
Required Contents/Structure of Proposal: All proposals are required to follow the outline
below. Page limits are noted by section. Proposals must be on 8.5" x 11" paper, printed front and back
(2 pages). Any sheet larger than 8.5" x 11" will count as four pages. All margins are 0.8" using size 12
pt. Georgia font. Each page should include a footer with the page number and the name of the firm.

GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT REQUIREMENTS
Proposal Submittal must contain the following information:
Title: ABILENE MPO GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT (GPC) RFQ
1. Transmittal Letter signed by an officer of the company with authority to enter into a contract
should your firm receive a proposal award. (1 page)
2. Table of Contents (1 page)
3. Staff chart (maximum 4 pages) and brief biographies of key personnel. (maximum 1/2 page
per person) on the project team (both consultants and sub-contractors), with each person's
total years of planning experience, years in current position, and primary office location.
4. Proposal Narrative demonstrating a general understanding of the requested services,
qualifications, experience, approach, innovations, and why your team is best qualified to work
with the Abilene MPO planning team, consultants, and partners. (maximum as appropriate)
5. Hyperlinks to at least five (5) and up to ten (10), samples of work corresponding to the Major
Types of Work and/or the Scope of Services lists indicating team members' roles. (as
appropriate)
6. Professional References from three (3) separate contracts including name, title, relationship,
type of work performed, phone number, and email address. (maximum 1 page)
7. Resumes of likely KEY staff members to be assigned to the Abilene MPO contract noting
professional organizations, leadership roles, awards, and/or presentations at state and/or
national conferences. (maximum 2 page each)
8. Certifications, both State and Federal, signed by an authorized officer of the company
(required forms will be posted on Abilene MPO website at https://www.abilenempo.org/ as an
addendum)
STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY
This Request Qualifications (RFQ) is for the sole purpose of permitting the Abilene MPO to evaluate
formal responses. The Abilene MPO agrees to maintain all submitted information in confidence and
will not copy nor disclose any information contained to any person outside the group directly
responsible for evaluating its contents.
How to Score
Each criterion has a maximum point value. Evaluators award points up to that maximum using the
rating bands below, scaling the band percentage to the criterion's maximum in whole points. There
are no fractions. (e.g., "Strong" on a 5-point criterion = 4 pts). Category and total points sum to 100.
Band Definition (apply proportionally to each criterion's maximum points)
Exemplary Directly demonstrated on two or more comparable MPO engagements; named
(100%)
personnel; verifiable, documented outcomes.
Strong
Demonstrated on a comparable engagement with a documented outcome.
(80%)
Adequate
Relevant experience on a related task; capability evident but not at full MPO scale.
(60%)

GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT REQUIREMENTS
Band Definition (apply proportionally to each criterion's maximum points)
Limited
General or adjacent experience; capability asserted but thinly evidenced.
(40%)
Minimal
Tangential reference only; no demonstrated application.
(20%)
Absent
Not addressed in the submission.
(0%)
SCORING RUBRIC Scoring Categories (100 points)
A. Firm Qualifications, Capacity & Past Performance 14 pts
Evaluation Criterion (score using the rating bands; map to the
Ref Max
criterion maximum)
Demonstrated experience supporting MPOs of comparable size and
complexity (non-TMA / small-MTA metropolitan areas), evidenced by at
A1 3
least two relevant engagements with verifiable outcomes and client
references.
Team capacity and availability to staff and turn around multiple concurrent
A2 task orders under an on-call vehicle without subcontractor dependency for 4
core tasks.
Qualifications, certifications, and assignment continuity of proposed key
A3 personnel (e.g., AICP, PE/PTOE, GISP as relevant to assigned tasks), 5
including named project manager.
Project and task-order management approach: schedule and budget
A4 control, deliverable QA/QC, and an escalation/communication protocol 2
with MPO staff.
B. Core MPO Planning & Programming Process 18 pts
Ref Evaluation Criterion Max
Command of the metropolitan planning lifecycle and the respective federal,
state, and MPO roles - MTP and TIP development by the MPO and the
B1 4
MPO's input to TxDOT's Unified Transportation Program (UTP) -
consistent with the FHWA PlanWorks framework and 23 CFR Part 450.

GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT REQUIREMENTS
Financial planning and fiscal constraint: demonstrating a fiscally
constrained MTP and TIP under 23 CFR Part 450, including life-cycle
B2 project/program cost estimation and alignment to reasonably available 5
federal, state, and local revenue. (Source item 12 plus the absent fiscal-
constraint requirement.)
Performance-based planning and programming (PBPP / TPM):
B3 Federal PM1 (safety), PM2 (pavement/bridge), and PM3 (system 3
performance) measures under 23 CFR Part 490, SMART target-setting, and
target coordination with TxDOT
B4 Building documented informed consent on MTP and TIP project lists. 4
Coordination across modal and functional sectors - active transportation,
transit, traffic operations, finance, pavement/bridge preservation,
B5 2
resiliency - organized around the federal planning factors (23 U.S.C.
134(h)).
C. Data, Modeling & Forecasting 11 pts
Evaluation Criterion (score using the rating bands; map to the
Ref Max
criterion maximum)
Travel demand and mesoscopic modeling for volume and travel-time
C1 forecasting tied to adopted performance measures, using industry-standard 4
packages (e.g., TransCAD/TexPACK, TransModeler, or equivalent).
GIS asset inventory and spatial needs mapping - sidewalks, trails,
C2 bikeways, and other infrastructure - and identification of high-need 3
locations.
Corridor and sub-area deficiency analysis that establishes the documented
C3 2
basis for corridor studies and environmental review.
Reproducible, automated analytical pipelines - scripted/orchestrated
C4 model execution (e.g., scheduled API-driven runs) with version control and 2
documentation. "cron job")
D. Safety Planning 12 pts
Ref Evaluation Criterion Max
Crash diagnosis and data integration: TxDOT CRIS and, where available,
D1 EMS/trauma and asset-condition data to identify High-Injury (historical) 6
and High-Risk (predictive) locations.

GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT REQUIREMENTS
Countermeasure selection and prioritization using Crash Modification
D2 6
Factors (CMFs) and the adopted Texas SHSP and HSIP.
E. Equity, Accessibility, Design Context & Environment 9 pts
Ref Evaluation Criterion Max
Title VI - both compliance (49 CFR Part 21; E.O. 12898; language access
under E.O. 13166) and analysis, including spatial overlays onto
E1 Transportation Disadvantaged Communities (TDC) and Areas of Persistent 3
Poverty (AoPP) and translation of results into population-specific policy
implications.
ADA accessibility in the public right-of-way under PROWAG, and
E2 2
familiarity with TxDOT's corresponding PROWAG policy.
Linkage of environmental and stormwater analysis to corridor analysis for
E3 3
prioritization and regional mitigation planning.
Context-sensitive design: TxDOT Roadway Design Manual Context
E4 Classification System and the Connected Roadway Classification System 1
(CRCS).
F. Public Engagement & Communication 11 pts
Ref Evaluation Criterion Max
Design and execution of a Public Participation Plan consistent with 23 CFR
450.316: multidisciplinary, multi-jurisdictional convening using digital
F1 3
engagement platforms (e.g., Social Pinpoint or equivalent), in-person and
virtual focus groups, neighborhood-level audits, and public workshops.
Advanced survey design: stated-preference / scenario-variant (conjoint-
F2 style) instruments measuring public sentiment, regional values, and 5
behavioral trends.
Data communication and visualization: translating analysis into decision-
F3 ready insight via briefings, workshops, and public-facing dashboards/tools 3
that monitor progress toward goals and objectives.
G. Operations & Resilience 5 pts
Ref Evaluation Criterion Max

GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT REQUIREMENTS
Knowledge of TxDOT Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and
G1 Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) plans and 2
processes.
Application of resilience tools - the FHWA resilience/disaster-recovery
G2 tool suite or equivalents - for vulnerability assessment and regional 3
mitigation.
H. Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty (DMDU) -
20 pts
Procurement Priority
Ref Evaluation Criterion Max
TMIP-EMAT and scenario-ensemble generation: structured framing (e.g.,
H1 XLRM) and parametric/Monte Carlo sweeps to generate a wide ensemble 5
of plausible futures rather than a few fixed scenarios.
Scenario Discovery: PRIM, CART, or equivalent algorithms to isolate the
H2 specific operational conditions and thresholds under which the regional 5
network fails to meet objectives (vulnerability identification).
Adaptive pathways (Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathways, DAPP): defining
H3 adaptation tipping points, monitoring signposts and triggers, and 5
sequencing staged investments to keep options open over the plan horizon.
Multi-criteria robust portfolio selection: comparing investment portfolios
across the scenario ensemble using methods such as Fuzzy TOPSIS, Logic
H4 5
Scoring of Preference, or equivalent to select robust, regret-minimizing
programs.
TOTAL 100 pts