Project Information

Bid Title

Bus Rapid Transit Independent Cost Estimator Professional Services

Issuing Agency

Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority

Location

Ohio

Published Date

Nov 10, 2025

Closing Date

Dec 17, 2025

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Inquiries

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Documents

Join to Access Full Details

Project Description

Project ID:

Title: Bus Rapid Transit Independent Cost Estimator Professional Services

Addenda: 0

Release Date: 11/10/2025

Due Date: 12/17/2025

Post Information

Posted At:Mon, Nov 10, 2025 5:24 PMSealed Bid Process:Yes (Bids Sealed / Pricing Sealed)Private Bid:No

Overview

Summary

This document constitutes a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Professional Services Contract from qualified organizations (referred to as the “Proposer” during procurement) to furnish those services as described herein for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA). This contract is to provide necessary Independent Cost Estimator (ICE) Services (referred to as the “ICE Consultant” in this solicitation document). One consultant will be selected to provide these services as described herein.

Inclusion of an ICE Consultant is beneficial as part of CMAR projects that have construction costs greater than $10M or have unique complexity that would benefit from the experience of an ICE Consultant’s approach to estimate development. The ICE Consultant would be contracted directly by SORTA. The ICE Consultant will provide an independent estimate of the construction work during the Preconstruction Phase of the project. The ICE Consultant will validate the cost(s) and production proposals submitted by the CMAR Contractor.

The ICE Consultant will begin work immediately after receiving authorization to proceed in accordance with SORTA’s project schedule included in the CMAR Contract, which is anticipated to include the following milestones:

Activity	Reading Road Corridor Date	Hamilton Avenue Corridor Date
Award A&E contract	March 2024
Complete 30% plans	March 2025	October 2025
Complete 60% plans and obtain Guaranteed Maximum Proce (GMP) from CMAR Contractor	July 2026	TBD
Complete final design (60-100%), obtain permits, and start early construction components	December 2026	TBD
Construction and completion	March 2027 – July 2028	TBD

These dates are tentative and are subject to change.

Project information:

• Project Funding: State and Federal Funds
• Full Contract Term: Five Years (or completion of the scope, including optional scope)

Background

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (“SORTA”), commonly known as Cincinnati Metro, is a regional transit authority established pursuant to Section 306.30 et seq. of the Ohio Revised Code. As such, SORTA is a political subdivision of the State of Ohio.

SORTA delivers a range of public transportation services, including fixed-route mass transit, paratransit, and micro-transit. Its service area encompasses the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and portions of Butler, Clermont, and Warren Counties.

SORTA operates 48 fixed bus routes, utilizing a fleet of approximately 300 transit buses. In addition, it provides paratransit services with a fleet of 60 vehicles and micro-transit services with 30 vehicles, ensuring accessible and flexible transportation options across the region.

SORTA is proposing a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System along two corridors:

• Reading Road BRT Corridor: the 9.2-mile Reading Road BRT corridor extends from the Riverfront Transit Center at Second Street in Downtown Cincinnati to Cincinnati’s Roselawn neighborhood.

• Hamilton Avenue BRT Corridor: the 11-mile Hamilton Avenue BRT corridor extends from the Riverfront Transit Center at Second Street in Downtown Cincinnati to the inner ring suburbs of North College Hill and Mount Healthy.

The Reading Road and Hamilton Avenue BRT Corridor projects are part of SORTA’s Reinventing Metro plan, which consists of new capital projects and infrastructure improvements, including the construction of four BRT lines. The Reading Road Corridor BRT project is planned to be the first BRT line constructed as part of this plan, with the procurement of a Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR) Contractor currently underway.

Following delivery of the Reading Road Corridor, SORTA plans to procure a CMAR Contractor for the Hamilton Avenue Corridor BRT project. The Hamilton Avenue Corridor is one of the main north-south travel routes in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. As part of this BRT project, infrastructure improvements would be made to roadway pavement, drainage, sidewalks, and traffic signals.

SORTA intends to use the (CMAR method for the delivery of the Reading Road and Hamilton Avenue Bus Rapid Transit projects (referred to collectively as “the Project” throughout the document).

Timeline

Solicitation Release Date:

November 10, 2025

Pre-Proposal Meeting (Non-Mandatory):

November 21, 2025, 1:00pm

Teams Meeting:

https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/ap/t-59584e83/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fteams.microsoft.com%2Fl%2Fmeetup-join%2F19%253ameeting_NTI1NjQ2ZDgtMGY4MS00NGU3LTk3MTEtMGRlMTk5MjVlNGVi%2540thread.v2%2F0%3Fcontext%3D%257b%2522Tid%2522%253a%2522b847c2f0-baef-4664-a416-a3edbe0281c7%2522%252c%2522Oid%2522%253a%2522fdad98d5-5fa1-4fa2-9a59-603bae9f64b1%2522%257d&data=05%7C02%7Ccharvey%40go-metro.com%7C07b45459871e4839dd9208de1d3adadd%7Cb847c2f0baef4664a416a3edbe0281c7%7C0%7C0%7C638980335791764774%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C4000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=sokGMo7aZ3HZ%2FqlF3N7jIuZEdkCx0n0k%2FuYsWKumhUI%3D&reserved=0

Meeting ID: 254 158 218 853 7
Passcode: iX9kv3yn
________________________________________
Dial in by phone
+1 213-634-2005,,734855350# United States, Los Angeles
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 734 855 350#

Deadline to Submit Questions:

December 1, 2025, 3:00pm

Addendum/Response to Questions/Clarifications:

December 5, 2025, 4:00pm

Proposals Due:

December 17, 2025, 3:00pm

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541330Engineering Services
• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

* Disclaimer: Government BidHub provides information on bids, RFPs (Requests for Proposals), and RFQs (Requests for Qualifications) solely for convenience and informational purposes. This site is not an official public notice board. For official details, responses, or inquiries, please contact the relevant government agency directly.