Professional Services for On-Call Environmental (NEPA) Studies for State and Local Projects

Location:	Nebraska
Posted:	Jan 28, 2026
Due:	Feb 18, 2026
Agency:	State of Nebraska - Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	C - Architect and Engineering Services - Construction
Solicitation No:	RFQ-2604
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Attachment Preview

RFQ-2604

Request for Qualifications

Professional Services for On-Call

Environmental (NEPA) Studies for State and

Local Projects

January 28, 2026

Statements of Qualifications are due Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 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 On-

Call Environmental (NEPA) Studies for State and Local Projects. This is a combined

selection process for one group of consultants to provide environmental services for

STATE projects only, and a second group of consultants to provide services for

LOCAL projects only. Consultants may apply for consideration and be selected for

both groups. 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 and Local Public

Agencies (LPAs) 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 insurance certificate,

can be found at https://dot.nebraska.gov/business-center/consultant/insurance/.

NDOT is seeking a statement of qualifications from consultants who wish to be considered to

provide these services. The selected consultants will be required to follow the LPA

Guidelines Manual for Federal-Aid Projects and all applicable Federal and State

requirements and procedures for the local federal-aid projects.

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.

Template Date: 8/13/2025

Page 1 of 10

RFQ-2604

Nebraska Public Records Act

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

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.

110 NEPA Studies

111 NEPA Categorical Exclusion

112 NEPA Environmental Assessment

113 NEPA Environmental Impact Statement

SCOPE OF SERVICES

A. OVERVIEW OF THE WORK:

The Consultant will assist the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) and

Local Public Agencies (LPA) with environmental services to be completed in

accordance with NDOTs current Environmental Procedures Manual (EPM) and

supplemental guidance documents found at:

https://dot.nebraska.gov/projects/environment/pubs/docs/

The consultant shall demonstrate experience and expertise in the following

environmental disciplines:

1. Preparation or Re-evaluation of the CE Determination Form for Federal-Aid

Projects, to be completed in accordance with the EPM and the Nebraska

Categorical Exclusion Guidance as directed by NDOT.

2. The Consultant shall provide CE documentation by way of the NEDS database,

Instruction, and applicable Forms, or as directed by NDOT.

3. Section 4(f) Determinations in accordance with NDOT’s Guidance for Completing

the Section 4(f) Review Process in Nebraska for Federal-Aid Projects.

4. Hazardous Materials Reviews and Site Assessment in accordance with NDOT’s

Hazardous Material Review Guidance Manual.

5. Noise Studies, to be completed in accordance with NDOT’s Noise Analysis and

Abatement Policy and Guidance Manual including field measurement, Traffic noise

modeling utilizing the current FHWA Traffic Noise Model, Abatement Analysis and

Reporting.

Template Date: 8/13/2025

Page 2 of 10

RFQ-2604

6. Air Quality Analyses to be completed as directed by Nebraska Department of

Water, Energy and Environment (NDWEE) Air Quality State Implementation Plan

(SIP). The qualified consultant shall execute all air quality analysis of the SIP in

support of the CE as directed by NDOT. the environmental review regulation

issued by FHWA (23 CFR 771) and the current FHWA Mobile Source Air Toxics

(MSAT) guidance.

7. Threatened and Endangered Species Reviews in accordance with the Biological

Evaluation Process (Matrix) for Federal-Aid Transportation Program in Nebraska

as amended 2023 and other pertinent Biological Surveys and Assessments such

as:

a. Migratory Bird Treaty Act Evaluation and Field Survey

b. Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act Evaluation and Survey

c. Nebraska Non-game and Endangered Species Conservation Act Evaluation

and Coordination

d. Desktop and/or Field Survey for State and Federally listed Threatened and

Endangered Species, or other Wildlife Species of Concern as directed by

NDOT.

e. User’s Guide for Range-wide Programmatic Consultation for Indiana Bat and

Northern Long-eared Bat.

8. Historic Properties Survey and Evaluation in accordance with the Programmatic

Agreement among the Federal Highway Administration, the Nebraska State

Historic Preservation Officer, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and

the Nebraska Department of Transportation to Satisfy the Requirements of Section

106 for the Federal-Aid Highway Program in the State of Nebraska, as amended

2023. This does not include historic bridge recordation services.

9. Other related environmental services for the assessment of project impacts and

appropriate agency coordination including but not limited to the following: 1)

Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act; 2) Prime and Unique

Farmlands (Farmland Protection Policy Act); 3) Wild and Scenic River Act, 4)

Floodplain Permitting, 5) Socioeconomic studies.

10. Assistance with Public Involvement activities in accordance with the NDOT EPM

Chapter 9 – Public Involvement Procedures and Tribal Coordination activities as

directed by NDOT. Tasks may include preparation of public involvement materials

and facilitation of public meetings.

11. Waterway

Determination/Delineation

and

Permitting;

Wetland

Delineation/Determinations to be completed in accordance with NDOT Wetland

and Water Resource Procedure Document, and the USACE 1987 Wetland

Delineation Manual and appropriate Regional Supplements; USACE 2021

Nebraska Regional Conditions; USACE Nebraska Stream Condition Assessment

Procedure; Waterway Permitting to be completed in accordance with Section 401

(State Water Quality Certification) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act,

Nebraska Regional-General Permit 11-02, Nationwide and General (Individual)

Permit procedures, and/or NE State Title 117; Waterway Permitting in accordance

with Section 9 (U.S. Coast Guard) and Section 10 (US Army Corps of Engineers)

of the Rivers and Harbors Act as directed by NDOT. Tasks include the following:

a. Preparation of on-site Preliminary Wetland/WOUS Determinations and

Preparation of Wetland/WOUS delineations using USACE 1987 Wetland

Template Date: 8/13/2025

Page 3 of 10

RFQ-2604

Delineation Manual and appropriate Regional Supplements. Wetland/WOUS

delineations shall also follow the NDOT Delineation Practices and Standards

set forth by the NDOT Wetland and Water Resource Procedure Document.

b. Preparation and acquisition of Preliminary or Final Jurisdictional

Determination documentation for USACE review, concurrence, and approval.

c. Prepare Nationwide Permit (NWP) Pre-Construction Notification (PCN)

utilizing the NDOT PCN Template and acquiring project authorizations from

the USACE.

d. Prepare Individual Permit (IP) applications and acquire 404 permit approvals;

Prepare Section 404(b)(1) guideline analysis and reporting; Prepare USACE

permits decision documentation if required.

e. Coordinate and acquire Section 401 Water Quality Certification and/or State

Title 117 (NE Surface Water Quality Standards) signoff/approvals from the

Nebraska Department Water, Energy and Environment (NDWEE) as

appropriate.

f. Coordinate, present and attend pre-application meetings as required.

g. Additional Services associated with 404 permit acquisitions that may be

required on a limited basis including: USACE Section 10 authorization

acquisition, coordination and acquisition of US Coast Guard permits,

floodplain permit acquisition, coordination, and acquisition of Section 401

Water Quality Certifications from the US Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) on tribal lands.

12. Wetland and Stream Mitigation Design and Monitoring, to include the following:

13. Develop mitigation site suitability reports to identify potential onsite mitigation or

mitigation bank site opportunities addressing existing and potential wetland and/or

stream channel site characteristics.

14. Develop conceptual and/or final mitigation site grading plans and written mitigation

site plans in conjunction with NDOT and appropriate resource agencies, NPO’s

and landowners.

15. Perform mitigation site monitoring using approved NDOT/USACE methods to

include routine small site methods and large site transect methods.

16. Floodplain Permitting and agency coordination that may include support for the

map revision process.

17. Water quality assessment, coordination and permitting associated with the

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) under Section 402 of

the Clean Water Acts, and/or NDOT’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System

(MS4) program.

18. Assist, review and/or develop written requests to support coordination of Section

408 (33 USC 408) alterations to US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works projects.

B. QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

1. NEPA/CE Documentation

a. The Consultant shall demonstrate experience and efficiency in preparation

and coordination of CE documentation for the Nebraska Transportation

program. The consultant’s Principal Author shall demonstrate continued

Template Date: 8/13/2025

Page 4 of 10

RFQ-2604

training and education specifically associated with NDOT environmental

guidance manuals and programmatic agreements.

b. The Consultant team must demonstrate Training and/or Experience with

NDOT processes and guidance for the following: Historic Properties

Assessment and Section 106 Coordination, Section 4(f) Coordination,

Hazardous Materials Evaluation, Threatened and Endangered Species

Survey and Evaluation, Public Involvement Plan Development and

Coordination, and Social/economic evaluation.

2. Noise and Air

a. The Consultant must have experience in preparing noise studies using the

latest FHWA-approved version of the Traffic Noise Model (TNM), and in

preparing air quality studies using the latest FHWA-approved version of the

Mobile Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES). Work experience must be

demonstrated for air quality studies in non- attainment areas as it relates to

transportation conformity.

b. The proposal should reference certificates of training for the latest Traffic

Noise Model (TNM) and the latest Mobile Vehicle Emissions Simulator

(MOVES) for key project personnel that were included with the NEPA

certification submittal.

c. The Consultant should also demonstrate knowledge of, or experience and

training using current FHWA or EPA approved software for air dispersion and

intersection modeling.

3. Wetland and Waterway Permitting

a. The Consultant’s wetland scientist(s) must meet NDOT’s definition of

“Qualified Scientist.”

b. The Consultant’s wetland scientist(s) must also have Nebraska experience

with proficiency in wetland delineation/wetland monitoring principals; and

Section 404 permitting experience with the USACE Nebraska Regulatory

office.

c. The Consultant must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in wetland

mitigation site planning, design, and development.

4. The Consultant must demonstrate a high-level knowledge of transportation

engineering concepts, transportation planning, and technical writing.

5. The Constant must demonstrate an effective Quality Assurance and Quality

Control program that has resulted in minimal repeat field work and document

C. SOFTWARE AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

1. The Consultant must have Google Chrome web browser to complete the CE

documentation using NDOT’s web-based application (NEDS database).

2. The Consultant must have an ANSI Type I or 2 noise meter to obtain accurate field

measurements of noise levels. The field equipment must be capable of measuring

decibels weighted with the A-level frequency response referred to as dB(A).

3. Consultant may be required to prepare modeling input files, conduct modeling, and

provide results using the latest version of the following software:

Template Date: 8/13/2025

Page 5 of 10

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