Design Services for Blue Line Signals Modernization

Rev Date: January 2026
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Request for Qualifications
For
Design Services for Blue Line Signals Modernization
MBTA Contract No.
X14PS01
ISSUE DATE
September 30, 2026

I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is soliciting consulting services to develop a preliminary
design for Blue Line signals modernization comprising of block designs, control lines, location of future
infrastructure improvements, route and aspect (manipulation) charts, safe breaking and headway report,
vehicle model including cab signal interactions, point to point cable plans, typical details for switch
machines, field devices, and other signals equipment, and analysis/recommendations for equipment room
locations.
This project is expected to utilize Federal funding.
II. SCOPE OF SERVICES:
The services will be delivered by Phase. Project Phases for this project are defined to be:
a. Program Management (PM) and General Administration Services
b. Phase 1: Preliminary Design Services & Bid Phase Services
a. Phase 1.A - Pre-Design, Validating Draft Basis of Design, and Validation of Design
Requirements with Stakeholders.
b. Phase 1.B - 15% Design (0% - 15%)
c. Phase 1.C - 30% Design (15% - 30%)
c. Phase 2: Construction Phase and Technical Advisory Services
III. DURATION:
The duration of this contract is one (1) year from the date of Notice to Proceed, with two (2) options period
of two (2) years each.
IV. PROJECT BRIEFING:
The MBTA will hold a virtual project briefing for this Project on October 7 at 10:00am, via Microsoft
Teams.
Link will be posted to Bid Express
V. QUESTIONS AND ADDENDA:
Proposers are advised that all communication shall be limited to written inquiry.
The deadline for receipt of questions is 8 calendar days before the SOQ due date. All questions must be
submitted via Bid Express.
Proposers are responsible for ensuring that any questions and requests for clarification clearly indicate
that the material relates to the Project. The MBTA reserves the right to respond or not respond to questions
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and requests submitted. To the extent that a response is merited, any response will be made available to
all Proposers.
The MBTA reserves the right to revise this RFQ by issuing addenda at any time before the SOQ due date.
All addenda will be considered part of this RFQ and will be posted on the procurement site. It will be the
sole responsibility of the Proposer to ascertain the existence of any and all addenda issued by the MBTA.
Firms will receive notice from the procurement site that an addenda has been posted.
Any responses to questions, clarifications, or addenda not issued in accordance with this Section will be
without legal effect
VI. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MBTA AND PROPOSERS
Once the RFQ has been issued, the only authorized communications shall be through the named person
of contact for the MBTA. Unauthorized communications or contact between the firms, their employees,
agents, or other related entities interested in submitting SOQs and the MBTA, or any other person or entity
participating on the Selection Committee with regard to this Project are strictly prohibited after the RFQ
is advertised. Interested firms will have access to the MBTA Project team during the Project Briefing if
conducted. Any communication outside of this meeting will be addressed to the Designated Project
Representative via email.
From the date of issuance of this RFQ through the award of the Contract, any Proposer that contacts
directly or indirectly any member or employee of the MBTA or any member of the Selection Committee
in connection with the selection process or the contract contemplated herein for this Project is subject to
disqualification.
VII. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS:
Firms having capabilities for this work are invited to submit a Statement of Qualifications no later
than 11:00 AM on October 22nd, 2026, via Bid Express at
https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/83754/home. Joint Venture participation will be considered.
Proposers are solely responsible for ensuring that the MBTA receives their SOQs by the specified
delivery date and time at the address listed above. The MBTA shall not be responsible for delays and
other occurrences beyond the control of the MBTA.
Responses to the Request for Qualification shall include one (1) digital copy, submitted via
BidExpress.com of the current Standard Form (SF) 330 - Architect/Engineer Qualification Questionnaire
for all proposed team members, including all proposed sub-consultant firms.
Each Statement of Qualification must include the firm's valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued
through System for Award Management (SAM) on Part II of the (SF)330
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Please utilize Section H (Additional Information) of the Standard Form (SF) 330 to address the following:
1. Proposed Team and Organization.
2. Key personnel qualifications for all project disciplines. The Project Manager assigned by the
selected consultant(s) shall be a registered electrical Engineer with a minimum of 15 years of PM
experience, experience with systems integration and audio frequency cab signaling, and possess
experience with MBTA systems, procedures, and inter-departmental coordination. The Project
Manager shall also have a working knowledge of appropriate design codes and MBTA standards,
including: MBTA Guide to Access, Massachusetts Building Code, Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR): 521 CMR: Massachusetts Architectural
Access Board (AAB), 750 CMR Chapter 34: Repair, Alterations, and Change of Use of Existing
Buildings, and NFPA 130 - Standard for Fixed Guide-Way Transit and Passenger Rail Systems.
3. Project experience of team members that best illustrates current qualifications relevant to this
project.
4. Additional information or description of resources supporting Firms' qualifications for the
project.
5. Personnel by discipline should be provided in Section 9 of (SF) 330, Part II
In addition, Consultants shall provide:
Completed Bidder Form for each Prime and Subconsultant on the SOQ Submission
The Statement of Qualifications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Evaluation Criteria Weighting
Proposed Team and Organization 20
Key Personnel Qualifications 20
Relevant Project Experience 25
Additional Information 15
Personnel by Discipline 10
General/Overall Evaluation 10
Total 100
VIII. SELECTION PROCESS
Following an initial evaluation of qualifications and performance data, firms considered to be the most
highly qualified to provide the required services will be requested to submit proposals and may be invited
to participate in interviews
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All firms that are shortlisted must be actively registered in the federal System for Award Management
(SAM) and maintain an active status prior to proposal submission.
It is the practice of the Authority to encourage the economic growth of professional firms through broad
solicitation and award of contracts. All capable firms are invited to submit a Statement of Qualifications
in accordance with the instructions presented in this solicitation.
This is not a Request for Proposal. The MBTA reserves the right to cancel this procurement or to reject
any or all Statements of Qualifications.
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