Traffic Data Collection & Analyis Project RFP

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
TO PERFORM PLANNING SERVICES FOR:
Traffic Data Collection & Analysis Project
BISMARCK-MANDAN METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
Kim Riepl
Principal Transportation Planner
PROPOSALS MUST BE DELIVERED TO
BISMARCK-MANDAN MPO
BY 4:00 P.M. Central Friday, August 14, 2026
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Contents
I. PURPOSE OF THE REQUEST ................................................................................................. 4
II. OBJECTIVE ............................................................................................................................. 4
III. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS ................................................................................................. 4
IV. CONTENT OF PROPOSALS ................................................................................................. 5
V. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION ................. 6
VI. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND PROCESS ........................................................................ 7
VII. REGIONAL CONTEXT AND EXISTING CONDITIONS ................................................. 7
VIII. STUDY AREA ..................................................................................................................... 8
IX. SCOPE OF WORK ................................................................................................................. 9
X. REVIEW AND COMPLETION PROCESS .......................................................................... 10
XI. INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE CONSULTANT ................................................ 11
EXHIBITS ...................................................................................................12
Appendix A: Proposed Sub-Consultant Request Form
Appendix B: Consultant Self Certification of Government-Wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)
Form
Appendix C: Certification and Restriction on Lobbying Form
Appendix D: Federal, State and Local Clauses
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I. PURPOSE OF THE REQUEST
The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to provide interested consulting firms with enough information
about the professional services desired by the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for
the following project:
Traffic Data Collection & Analysis Project
The MPO is requesting the services of a transportation engineering/planning firm to provide traffic data collection
and analysis services to inform the development of the Travel Demand Model in 2027. The Project will be
conducted in cooperation with the City of Bismarck and with the North Dakota Department of Transportation
(NDDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
II. OBJECTIVE
The MPO and its partners intend to supplement their current inventory of vehicle counting data with several
additional locations not previously counted. Because these counts will be used for important road funding
decisions in the future, such as the prioritization of projects within future Transportation Improvement Plans and
the next Metropolitan Transportation Plan, it is important that the count data is accurate and trustworthy. Further,
the analyses performed on the counts is critical to the impending update to the MPO's Travel Demand Model in
2027, creating an immediate need and compressed time schedule for the substantial completion of this Project
prior to December 31, 2026.
III. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
A. Any questions or comments regarding this proposal should be submitted to:
Kim Riepl, Responsible Charge
Bismarck-Mandan MPO
221 N 5th Street
P.O. Box 5503
Bismarck, ND 58506-5503
Phone: 701.355.1844
E-Mail: kriepl@bismarcknd.gov
B. Proposals shall be submitted to: Kim Riepl
Project Manager
kriepl@bismarcknd.gov
C. All Proposals must be clearly identified with the following:
1) NAME OF THE SUBMITTING FIRM
2) 'Proposal for: Traffic Data Collection & Analysis Project
D. The MPO will only consider proposals received prior to 4:00 PM Central Time on Friday, August
14, 2026. One (1) electronic copy must be received by the deadline. Electronic copies may be
emailed to kriepl@bismarcknd.gov. Proposals received after the 4:00 PM CT deadline will be
considered unresponsive and will not be considered for an interview. The MPO reserves the right to
reject any or all proposals.
E. Proposal Cut Down: The Selection Committee intends to interview between three (3) and five (5)
consultants, depending on the number and quality of proposals received. The strength of the written
proposals will be the basis for awarding an interview. Consultants will be notified of their interview
status by phone or email August 17, 2026.
F. Selection Committee: The Selection Committee will consist of a panel of up to three (3) people; two
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(2)voters and one (1) moderator. The MPO Project Manager will moderate the interviews. In the
case of a first ranked tie, the moderator's ranking will provide the tie-breaking score.
G. Interviews: Consultants will be evaluated on both written proposals and interviews. Interviews may
be conducted in-person, remotely, or using a hybrid combination of both options at the discretion of
the candidate. Ranking is based on the criteria listed in Section VI: Evaluation Criteria and Process.
Interviews are planned to be held August 31 - September 3, 2026. Consultants will be given forty-
five (45) minutes to present their proposals and entertain questions. The consultant will be
responsible for managing their interview and allowing time for questions. The MPO project manager
will provide a TEAMs link for the interview to allow screen sharing.
H. Selection and Approvals: Selection will be based on the interview committee's recommendation.
All interviewees will be notified of the selection results in writing. Approval of the top ranked firm
will be requested of the MPO's TAC September 14 and Policy Board on September 15, 2026.
I. Contract Negotiations: Contract negotiations will begin immediately after Policy Board approval.
Consultant will be required to prepare a scope of work and final fee schedule which will be included
in the MPO's template contract as Exhibit A. Draft contracts are reviewed by MPO Staff, its partners
and legal counsel. Upon successful negotiation, the MPO intends to execute the contract upon staff
authority (Disclaimer: This contract will be subject to a financial assistance contract between the
state of North Dakota and the USDOT).
Successful final negotiations shall include:
1.) Prime Consultant scope of work and final fee schedule not exceeding $37,000, to be
substantially complete and billed in 2026.
2.) Scope of work and fee schedule for ALL Subconsultants
3.) Prime Consultant Certificate of Liability Insurance
4.) Prime Consultant Indirect Cost Form (blank form provided by MPO)
5.) SFN 60233: Prime Consultant Request to Sublet Form (blank form provided by MPO)
6.) Up-to-date SF330 Form for NDDOT, if needed (see Section III: Content of Proposals)
IV.CONTENT OF PROPOSALS
Length of Proposals:
The main body of the proposal shall be no more than eight (8) pages and pages shall be numbered. The cover page,
table of contents, and appendix will not count toward the proposal page limit of eight (8) pages.
Required Elements for Proposal:
The consultants are requested to be as brief and concise as possible. The main body of the proposal shall address
the following major sections:
a) Description of firm
b) Organizational chart showing project team and general activities
c) Table of key individuals' time-available for project/study
d) Understanding of project and proposed work approach
e) Brief examples of past, pertinent work projects
Required Elements for Appendix:
The consultant's appendix must include the following unless noted as 'optional'. The items included in the
appendix will not count toward the eight (8) page limit and may take as many pages as needed.
* Proposed Project Schedule: Proposed schedules may begin as early as September 29 2026, and
should detail all activities necessary to complete the study. Activities may include but are not
limited to:
Contract Negotiations
Data Acquisition (provided, as available, by the MPO, NDDOT, and local jurisdictions)
Consultant led in-field collection
Monthly updates (via Zoom or in person) to MPO TAC and Policy Board
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Data Review by MPO, NDDOT, Burleigh County and City of Bismarck
Delivery of final approved data
Final Presentations to the MPO TAC and Policy Board
* Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA) program: Detail the program that will be used on the
project. This (QC/QA) program must identify the team members, their responsibilities, and stages of
development at which each is to be responsible.
* Required Qualification Based Selection (QBS) Documents:
Signed Proposed Sub-Consultant Request Form if applicable (Appendix A)
Signed Consultant Self Certification of Government-Wide Debarment and Suspension
(Nonprocurement) Form (Appendix B)
Signed and Notarized Certification and Restriction on Lobbying Form (Appendix C)
* Resumes or list of Personnel: Detail who will be assigned to work on the project (including titles,
education, and/or work experience).
* Optional: The Federal Standard Form 330, "Architect-Engineer Qualifications", is an NDDOT
requirement, and proves the consultant is pre-qualified to provide architectural, engineering, and/or
planning services. Consultants will not be penalized if the SF 330 is omitted in their proposal, but the
MPO will verify a current version is on file with NDDOT after the consultant is selected for
contract negotiations. Architect and Engineering firms must have an active SF 330 on file with
NDDOT before the contract can be signed. See https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/2024-08/SF330-
21a.pdf for a link to the SF 330. All SF 330 forms provided to the MPO will be kept on file by the
MPO and forwarded to NDDOT.
Disclosure of Proposal Ownership:
At the conclusion of the selection process, the contents of all proposals will be subject to the City of Bismarck's
Open Records Policy in conjunction with North Dakota Century Code 44-04 requirements, and may be open to
inspection by interested parties. Any information included in the proposal that the proposing party believes to be a
trade secret or proprietary information must be clearly identified in the proposal. Any identified information
documented as such and protected by law may be exempt from disclosure.
V.ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
State, Federal and Local Contract Requirements:
The City of Bismarck as the MPO's Host Agency, the NDDOT, and FHWA require that specific clauses accompany
federally funded projects executed by the MPO. Consultants shall abide by the necessary clauses included verbatim
and unaltered in all potential MPO contracts. The clauses can be reviewed in Appendix D: State, Federal and Local
Clauses.
Ownership of Work Product:
One additional clause not included in Appendix D but required due to the use of Federal Funds, is the "Ownership of
Work Product" clause. Consultants and sub-consultants should be prepared to abide by the following:
Ownership of Work Product: All work products and copyrights of the contract, which result from the contract, are
the exclusive property of Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMMPO) and North Dakota
Department of Transportation (NDDOT), with an unlimited license for use by the federal government and its
assignees without charge.
General Information:
Bismarck-Mandan MPO reserves the right to enter into a supplementary agreement to have the selected firm
perform any additional work not currently assigned.
If the contract is terminated prior to completion of the final report, all work completed, which has been compensated
for, shall become the property of the Bismarck-Mandan MPO and NDDOT, as per the 'Ownership of Work Product'
Clause.
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The final report will be submitted using the following formats and standards, if applicable:
* MS Word/ MS Excel/MS PowerPoint
* Adobe Acrobat (Standard or Compatible)
* NDDOT Data Collection Codes and Procedures
* NDDOT and/or City, as applicable, Drafting Standards
* Chapter 19 NDDOT Survey and Photogrammetry Manual
* NDDOT Design Manual
* ArcGIS Online
* GIS Data
* Format compatible with MS2
VI.EVALUATION CRITERIA AND PROCESS
The selection process will be completed in accordance with Bismarck-Mandan MPO policies. Written proposals
shall address the firm's ability to perform the necessary services in the allotted time with qualified personnel.
Selection will be based on the following criteria:
1. Recent, current, and projected workloads
2. Ability of professional personnel (staff experience and technical capabilities)
3. Related experience on similar projects
4. Location
5. Project understanding, issues and approach
6. Past Performance
7. Willingness to meet time and budget requirements
8. Recent and current work for the agency
9. Project schedule
The final selection will be based on evaluation of written proposals along with interviews. All firms not selected will
be notified in writing.
A final scope of work will be developed, and cost will be negotiated with the successful firm. An agreement will be
executed with a single firm. If unable to arrive at a mutual agreement with the top ranked firm, the MPO retains the
right to move on to negotiations with the second (then third, etc.) ranked firm. Approved sub-agreements for minor
portions of the work will be permitted.
VII.REGIONAL CONTEXT AND EXISTING CONDITIONS
Bismarck-Mandan MPO Region:
The Bismarck-Mandan MPO consists of the cities of Mandan, Bismarck, and Lincoln, and the metropolitan portions
of Burleigh and Morton counties. The MPO has a performance-based planning process that supports metropolitan
community development and federal, state, and local transportation goals. These plans and programs are intended to
lead to the development of an integrated, multi-modal metropolitan transportation system that facilitates the safe,
efficient, and economic movement of people and goods.
The MPO planning area is roughly 394 square miles. It is bisected from north to south by the Missouri River and is
generally comprised of rolling topography throughout. Within the MPO area, the city of Bismarck in Burleigh
County has an approximate population of 75,500; the city of Mandan in Morton County approximately 24,522; and
the city of Lincoln, also in Burleigh County, nearly 5,000. Burleigh County has seen an increase in its population to
103,107, making it the second most populous county in the state, while Morton County has likewise seen an increase
over the 2020 US Census numbers and has approximately 34,000 residents. (Source: 2020-2024 5-year American
Community Survey).
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VIII. STUDY AREA
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IX. SCOPE OF WORK
Traffic Collection Preparation
The MPO envisions that radar/visual counters (example: MioVision) will be most beneficial in obtaining the type of
counts requested in this RFP. However, the consultant may use whichever traffic data collection equipment best
suits the roadway configuration and traffic conditions as well as physical features of the location.
The consulting/engineering firm will be responsible for supplying the appropriate amount of traffic data collection
equipment needed to complete the project on time. Counting equipment shall be used in accordance with
manufacturers' recommendations to obtain proper vehicle classification and/or identification. Any equipment
damaged or lost during traffic data collection for any reason will be at the consultant's expense.
The consultant shall determine which locations they plan to count prior to each deployment and shall determine if
there are any events, closures or any other activities that may interfere with the counting equipment or may
jeopardize the reliability of the counts. The consultant shall also notify the proper jurisdictional city's Public Works
and Engineering Departments of the subject roadway at least two (2) working days prior to each counter deployment
so that the proper maintenance crews are aware of the presence of the counting equipment when performing their
work.
Upon arrival at each count location, the consultant's technicians should assess the area to determine if there are
temporary conditions that may impact the count data. In such cases, the location may need to be rescheduled. If the
consultant has any questions regarding the impact of certain events/closures on desired traffic counts, the consultant
may ask the MPO contact.
The consultant shall determine if any permits are necessary to perform the work and shall obtain any
permits necessary prior to beginning work. Any costs associated with permits will be the responsibility of the
consultant.
At all times the consultant's technicians in the field will be responsible for determining the relative level of safety
for deploying traffic counters. If a technician feels unsafe at any time, they should not deploy traffic counters. The
consultant is strongly encouraged to schedule technicians so that counter deployment can occur during non-peak
hour travel times and only during daylight hours. The consultant's technicians will be responsible for wearing all
appropriate personal safety equipment, and for deploying appropriate signage and traffic control devices (e.g., cones,
etc.) to alert motorists to their presence. The MPO strongly recommends that all technicians work in teams of no less
than two persons, where one person can act as flagger and spotter for the person deploying the traffic counter (see
MUTCD for appropriate flagging techniques).
It is the responsibility of the consultant's technicians to review each location and the existing circumstances to
determine if a flagger/spotter is a necessary safety precaution. The MPO recommends that aerial photos of each
deployment location be reviewed prior to counter deployment in order to develop a plan for proper and safe
placement of the counter, and to determine where the technicians should park their vehicle while deploying the
counters.
Traffic Data Collection
The consultant will be responsible for safely, accurately, and efficiently collecting 48-hour traffic count data at up to
forty (40) designated locations which may consist of intersections or segments. Trucks shall be considered vehicle
classes 5 through 13. Turn movement counts and bicycle and pedestrian counts are requested at six (6) specified
count locations in the city of Bismarck. Turn movement counts, bicycle counts, and pedestrian counts will be
collected at all other locations for which such counts may be appropriate. Locations are approximated in the
attached Exhibits and will be finalized at time of contract negotiation.
Additional locations, which may consist of intersections or segments, collected by NDDOT and ATAC throughout
2024, 2025 and 2026, require compilation by the Consultant. NDDOT collected 717 counts in 2025 and 794 counts
in 2026. In 2024, 36 counts on segments were completed. ATAC has covered turning movement counts at 28
intersections in City of Bismarck. All locations will be compiled by the consultant along with new counts into a
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single file to be used for the Travel Demand Model.
Equipment
It will be the responsibility of the consultant to provide all equipment necessary to perform the traffic data
collection. The consultant will be responsible for providing the labor, transportation, and personal safety equipment
(vests, cones, signs, etc.) necessary to safely and efficiently deploy traffic counters. Additionally, the consultant will
be responsible for checking on counters every 24 hours to ensure that they remain secured and are operational.
Count Collection
The first deployment of traffic counters can begin approximately September 29 or October 1, 2026, and shall end
prior to October 31, 2026. Traffic counts shall be collected on days when the schools are in session. Traffic counts
shall be collected on Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday but shall not be conducted on any public holiday or
when schools are not in session.
X. REVIEW AND COMPLETION PROCESS
Deliverable 1.0: The consultant will develop a spreadsheet noting the date of counts, location information (street,
location description, and GPS coordinates), counter information, first 24-hour traffic count, second 24-hour traffic
count (if collected), and average ADT. Seasonal adjustment factors will be applied from NDDOT sources and where
applicable Advanced Traffic Analysis Center (ATAC) intersection turning movement counts should be used to
estimate the AADT. The consultant shall provide the MPO with the count data no later than 14 days after the counts
are taken (or after data is received from NDDOT). The spreadsheet shall be compatible with Microsoft Excel. The
MPO and its partner jurisdictions will review all traffic count data in the spreadsheet and will work with the
consultant to identify possible inaccuracies in recorded count data. The MPO will work cooperatively with the
consultant to develop a list of re-count locations (if necessary). The raw count data files shall also be provided to
the MPO and be displayed in 15-minute increments for this review.
Once all locations have been counted, the consultant shall provide the MPO with the completed spreadsheet of all
traffic data information. Subsequently, the MPO and its partners will review all data in the spreadsheet. The MPO
will again work with the consultant to identify possible inaccuracies in recorded count data and will cooperatively
develop a list of re-count locations (if necessary). Any recounts, at any time during the project, will be at the
expense of the consultant.
Deliverable 2.0: Upon approval of traffic count data spreadsheet, the consultant shall provide the MPO with a GIS
shapefile consisting of count information with a point at each specific count location. The points shall be shown in
NAD 1983 HARN State Plane North Dakota South FIPS 3302 Feet Intl. The attributes of each segment volume
count location shall include:
* Count ID Number
* Street
* Location Description
* Latitude
* Longitude
* Date & Time Set Up
* Date & Time of Pick Up
* Within 14 mile of school
* Street Classification
* AADT
* Truck Count
* % Trucks
* MPO/Consultant collection versus NDDOT collection
Refer to Exhibit for template of data format for turning movement counts.
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