Request for Proposals – 10/01/2026
Safe Streets and Roads for All - Safety Action Plan
Purpose:
The City of Valdez (COV) is soliciting proposals from qualified consultants to develop a Safe
Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan and associated deliverables to meet the
requirements of the SS4A program. Responses are requested in accordance with the
instructions set forth in this request for proposals (RFP) and are due via email by 5:00pm
AKST on November 02, 2026.
Background:
The City of Valdez is located at the southern terminus of the Richardson Highway, at the
head of Port Valdez in Prince William Sound. Port Valdez itself is a 12-mile long, ice-free
fjord with an average width of three miles. The Chugach Mountains surround the
community, making for one of the most beautiful settings in Alaska. The current city center
and most commercial and residential development are located on the north side of Port
Valdez on an alluvial fan formed by Mineral Creek. This area is relatively flat when
compared to the surrounding area and slopes gently seaward. The townsite
was relocated here on more stable ground, 4-miles southwest of the original townsite after
the 1964 earthquake and resulting seiche destroyed most of Old Town. While the city
center contains most businesses and residences, many other homes and businesses
are located eastward along the Richardson Highway. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline and marine
terminal and transshipment facilities are located on the south side of Port Valdez directly
across from the city center. Also located on the south side of Port Valdez are the Petro Star
Refinery and Solomon Gulch Hydroelectric dam. The city limits extend along 20 miles of
the Richardson Highway and encompass 272 square miles.
Valdez experiences long winters with significant snowfall and limited daylight, which affect
roadway conditions, visibility, snow storage, and access for pedestrians and other users.
These seasonal conditions are an important factor in transportation safety.
With an average population of just under 4000, Valdez has a home-rule type of government
with a City Manager, City Council, and many Boards and Commissions. The Alaska
Municipal Code provides that city governments can exercise any power not prohibited by
law. Pursuant to this, the City has assumed many community facilities and service
powers. These include streets, sidewalks, sewer, port and harbor facilities, flood control,
hospital facilities, police, cemeteries, refuse, water, transportation systems, library,
recreation, fire and emergency service, education, tax assessment/collection, and
planning, platting and land use regulation.
Project Description:
In collaboration with City leadership, City staff from the Community Development and
Capital Facilities departments, and the community, the consultant will develop a Safety
Action Plan with the goal of significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and
serious injuries in Valdez. The plan shall address the safety needs of all roadway users,
including vulnerable populations such as pedestrians, bicyclists, children, and seniors.
Scope of Work:
The City of Valdez seeks to develop a Safety Action Plan focused on eliminating roadway
fatalities and serious injuries, improving safety for all roadway users, and identifying
practical, implementable strategies to reduce risk. This plan will provide a framework for
exploring and implementing low-cost, high-impact projects and strategies to reduce crash
risk and improve safety for all roadway users. Given the size of the community, the analysis
should consider both observed crash data and systemic risk factors. The components of
the plan will include, but are not limited to:
A. Project Management and Coordination
Coordinate with City staff, the Community Development and Capital Facilities
departments, and a local safety task force throughout the planning process. Facilitate
regular meetings and provide clear documentation of progress.
B. Existing Conditions and Safety Analysis
Conduct a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of the existing transportation system,
including roadway characteristics, traffic patterns, and safety conditions. Utilize available
crash data, stakeholder input, and field observations to identify safety issues, trends, and
contributing factors.
C. Evaluation of All Roadway Users
Evaluate safety conditions and risks for all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists,
motorists, freight, and other users, with particular attention to vulnerable populations and
locations with elevated safety risks.
D. Public and Stakeholder Engagement
Develop and implement a public engagement strategy that includes public meetings,
surveys, workshops, and other outreach methods to ensure broad and inclusive
participation. Document all engagement activities and summarize key findings.
E. High-Injury Network (HIN) Identification
Develop a methodology to identify High-Injury Network corridors and intersections within
the City. The methodology should be appropriate for a small community and may
incorporate both crash data and systemic risk factors.
F. Best Practices and Strategy Development
Research and evaluate relevant local, state, and national best practices and evidence-
based safety strategies. Apply these findings to develop context-sensitive
recommendations tailored to Valdez, including consideration of seasonal conditions, such
as snow, ice, reduced daylight, and maintenance practices; visitor traffic; and local
transportation patterns.
G. Project Identification and Prioritization
Identify and prioritize a list of safety projects and programs, including planning-level cost
estimates. Recommendations should include a mix of engineering, education,
enforcement, and other strategies, with an emphasis on low-cost, high-impact
improvements.
H. Safety Action Plan Development
Prepare a comprehensive Safety Action Plan that includes data analysis, findings,
mapping, prioritized actions, implementation strategies, and performance measures. The
plan shall include clear tasks, timelines, and responsible partners.
I. Plan Adoption and Presentation
Present findings and recommendations to the Transportation Committee and City Council
and support the City through the plan adoption process.
J. SS4A Compliance
The Safety Action Plan shall meet all applicable requirements of the USDOT Safe Streets
and Roads for All (SS4A) program for a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.
Deliverables
Deliverables shall include, at a minimum:
– Existing conditions and safety analysis summary
– Public engagement summary
– High-Injury Network (HIN) mapping
– Executive summary suitable for public distribution
– Draft Safety Action Plan
– Final Safety Action Plan
– Presentation materials
Submission Requirements
Cover Letter: Letter highlighting the consultant team’s qualifications, project manager, and
any other person authorized to negotiate and sign an agreement with the City.
Organization and Project Team: The proposal should include a description of the
organization, including qualifications, technical expertise, and staff capacity to provide the
services requested within the expected timeline. Please include experience working on
projects similar in nature and the proposed project team members. Subcontractors or
partners that will work on the project should also be identified.
Project Approach: The proposed approach to achieving the project goal and objectives
including methods of completing a street safety assessment, project management
strategy, and public engagement plan.
Budget: A total of $350,000 is budgeted for this project. The proposed budget should
include a breakdown of costs associated with the delivery of the Safety Action Plan.
Examples of Related Work and References: Provide at least one (1) related work example
and three (3) client references. Letters of recommendations may also be included.
Completed IRS form W-9: The selected consultant will be paid with federal grant funds.
Please provide a completed IRS form W-9 and certification that the business and its
individuals are not suspended or debarred from federal work.
Submission and Selection
Proposals must be submitted to the City in PDF format by emailing Kate Huber, Community
Development Director (khuber@valdezak.gov) and Bruce Wall, Senior Planner
(bwall@valdezak.gov) by 5pm AKST on November 2, 2026. Submissions must be less than
36 megabytes. Submissions will be reviewed for completeness to ensure that all aspects of
the proposed services and the requested information have been included. Proposals will
be evaluated based on the criteria below and ranked by a group of City staff. The staff
committee will formulate a recommendation and negotiate the scope of work and a
professional services agreement with the selected consultant. The professional services
agreement will be subject to approval by the Valdez City Council. The consultant should be
prepared to answer questions from the Valdez City Council during approval.
Anticipated RFP Timeline:
10/01/2026
11/02/2026
11/17/2026
11/30-12/4
12/17/2026
RFP Issued
Deadline for Submissions
COV Completes Submission Review
Interviews (if necessary)
Finalist Notified/contract negotiations
Evaluation Criteria:
Proposal packages will be evaluated based on the firm’s overall ability to meet the
requirements in this RFP. The selection criteria will be the following:
Selection Criterion Proposal Scoring
Team Qualifications
Proposed Approach and Timeline
Experience With Similar Plans
Community Engagement Plan and Experience
Local Knowledge
Total Possible Points
Maximum
Possible Points
25
25
20
20
10
100
Contacts:
Kate Huber, Community Development Director
khuber@valdezak.gov
Bruce Wall, Senior Planner
bwall@valdezak.gov
This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
