Project Information

Bid Title

Tacoma Tideflats Evacuation Plan

Issuing Agency

Port of Tacoma

Location

Washington

Published Date

Dec 18, 2025

Closing Date

Jan 19, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

122025-1005

Original Source

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Project Description

Tacoma Tideflats Evacuation Plan

Bid Number:

122025-1005

Estimated Cost Range:

$215,000

Procurement Summary:

The PORT is soliciting Proposals from firms interested in providing traffic modeling and developing the Tacoma Tideflats Evacuation Plan.

Contact:

Shawn Seaks, Procurement Analyst

Bids Due:

Mon, 01/19/2026 - 02:00PM

Questions Due:

Thu, 01/08/2026 - 02:00PM

Documents:

122025-1005_tideflats_evac_plan_rfp.pdf

attachment_c_-_cost_breakdown_offer-vendor.docx

attachment_d_dhs_terms_and_conditions.pdf

attachment_e_-_2016_tideflats_emergency_response_final_plan.pdf

Attachment Preview

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

NO. 122025-1005

TACOMA TIDEFLATS EVACUATION PLAN

Issued by

Port of Tacoma

One Sitcum Plaza

P.O. Box 1837

Tacoma, WA 98401-1837

Contact:

Email Addresses:

Phone:

Submittal Date

Questions Due Date

Site Visit Date:

RFP INFORMATION

Shawn Seaks, Procurement Analyst

procurement@portoftacoma.com

(253) 592-6734

12/18/2025

01/08/2026

N/A

Request for Proposals

122025-1005-Tideflats Evacuation Plan

Page 1 of 20

SUBMIT ALL QUESTIONS AND PROPOSALS VIA THE PROCUREMENT

PORTAL. (LINK LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PROCUREMENT

WEB PAGE)

Request for Proposals

122025-1005-Tideflats Evacuation Plan

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Port of Tacoma Port

Request for Proposals (RFP) 122025-1005

A. PURPOSE

Tacoma Tideflats Evacuation Planning

The PORT is soliciting Proposals from firms interested in providing traffic modeling and

developing the Tacoma Tideflats Evacuation Plan. The PORT anticipates awarding one

(1) Professional Service contract(s). The period of performance of the contract is two (2)

years from the execution of the contract, with options for renewal at the sole discretion of

the PORT, for a possible total of two (2) years. This contract will not exceed a total of

$215,000.

The successful respondent may be precluded from competing for, or participating in,

subsequent contracts that are the direct result of or primarily generated by, the work

performed under the contract resulting from this procurement.

Interlocal Cooperation Act-RCW 39.34 allows cooperative purchasing between public

agencies and other political subdivisions. If a public agency files or has filed an

Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with the Port of Tacoma, those

agencies are eligible to purchase from Contracts established by the Port. Such agencies

may ask Port of Tacoma Contractors to accept orders from the agency, citing the Port of

Tacoma contract as the basis for the order. The Contractor may accept or decline such

orders. If the Contractor accepts an order from another public agency using the Port of

Tacoma contract as the basis, the Contractor agrees to sell additional items at the

contract prices, terms, and conditions. The Port of Tacoma accepts no responsibility for

the payment of the purchase price by other governmental agencies.

This is a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funded contract.

The PORT was awarded a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant in 2024

under the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). The Port will contribute $71,666 to the

budgeted cost of this contract. All work must be performed in accordance with

associated grant requirements. Therefore, the contract that results from the RFP and

various work packages will be subject to the Terms and Conditions of this grant. See

“Attachment D” for the DHS Terms and Conditions.

B. BACKGROUND

Created by Pierce County citizens in 1918, the Port of Tacoma is a major center for

container cargo, bulk, break-bulk, autos and heavy-lift cargo. To learn more about the

PORT, visit www.portoftacoma.com.

The Port of Tacoma is a critical economic engine for Pierce County and the broader

Pacific Northwest, supporting over 41,000 jobs and generating approximately $10.8

billion in business output annually. On any given day, an estimated 12,000 workers are

present in the Port area, including longshore workers, truck drivers, warehouse

personnel, and administrative staff. This high concentration of personnel, combined with

the Port’s strategic importance in national and international trade, underscores the need

for robust emergency preparedness and evacuation planning.

Request for Proposals

122025-1005-Tideflats Evacuation Plan

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The last comprehensive Port evacuation plan was developed in 2009 with an additional

transportation network study conducted in 2016 as part of an emergency response

analysis. Since then, the Port and surrounding areas have experienced significant

infrastructure changes that have altered traffic patterns and evacuation feasibility. These

changes include:

• Closure of the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge (Fishermans Way), a key

connector between Tacoma and Fife, following a federal safety directive. The

bridge is expected to remain closed for multiple years.

• Recurring closures of the Hylebos Bridge and Murray Morgan Bridge due to

mechanical malfunctions.

• Other bridge replacements and closures, such as the Wapato Creek Culvert

Replacement Project, which is converting a failing culvert into a bridge to improve

freight corridor safety and restore fish passage.

• The Port of Tacoma Road/I-5 Interchange Improvement Project, which

reconfigures the interchange into a split diamond design with one-way couplets,

converting the existing bridge to southbound-only traffic and adding a new

northbound bridge on 34th Avenue East.

• The SR 167 Completion Project, constructing new expressways between I-5, SR

509, and SR 161.

• Construction of the Maritime Center and Maritime 253 facilities, which will add a

student population to the Port area.

• Closure and rerouting of key surface streets and intersections during multi-phase

construction efforts.

These developments have and continue to significantly alter traffic patterns, access

routes, and evacuation feasibility in the Port area. As such, an updated evacuation study

and plan are essential to reflect current conditions, integrate new infrastructure, and

ensure the safety of Port workers and surrounding communities during emergencies.

The PORT’s Standard Terms and Conditions are included with the Sample Personal

Services Agreement (Attachment B) to this RFP. By submitting a Proposal, the

Proposer represents that it has carefully read and agrees to be bound by the

PORT’s Standard Terms and Conditions. Identify during the question submittal and

response period, any sections you consider onerous, clarify why you consider

these sections onerous, propose alternative language and describe why it is in the

Port’s best interests to adopt the alternative language.

Proposals submitted with altered or conditioned Terms and Conditions without

prior written agreement from the PORT will be considered non-responsive and not

considered for evaluation.

Proposers submit Proposals understanding all contract terms and conditions are

mandatory. Response submittal is agreement to the Contract without exception.

The PORT reserves the right to negotiate changes to submitted Proposals and to

change the PORT's otherwise mandatory Contract form during negotiations. If the

Proposer is awarded a contract and refuses to sign the attached Contract form, the

Request for Proposals

122025-1005-Tideflats Evacuation Plan

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PORT may reject the Proposer from this and future solicitations for the same work.

Under no circumstances shall Proposer submit its own boilerplate of terms and

conditions.

C. SCOPE OF SERVICES

This project will develop an updated evacuation study and comprehensive evacuation

plan for the Port of Tacoma, reflecting significant infrastructure changes since the last

plan in 2009. The scope is divided into four phases: a traffic study to support evacuation

planning, shelter-in-place assessment, drafting an evacuation plan, and conducting a

rehearsal of concept drill to test the drafted plan.

The work may include, but is not limited to, the following tasks:

Phase 1 – Traffic Study to Support Evacuation Planning

1) GIS Mapping and Modeling

a) Model traffic flow under various emergency scenarios, incorporating current and

planned infrastructure changes.

b) Develop GIS layers of evacuation routes, including contingency routes for bridge

closures.

2) Risk and Feasibility Analysis

a) Assess evacuation feasibility based on current and projected infrastructure.

b) Identify critical chokepoints and alternate routes.

Phase 2 – Shelter-in-Place Assessment

1) Shelter-in-Place Site Identification

a) Evaluate existing areas within the Port area for suitability as shelter-in-place

locations based on structural integrity, accessibility, capacity, and proximity to

high-risk zones.

2) Shelter Feasibility Analysis

a) Assess ventilation, water supply, sanitation, and communication capabilities of

identified sites.

3) Emergency Cache Needs Assessment

a) Determine appropriate emergency supplies (e.g., food, water, medical kits, PPE,

communication tools) based on shelter capacity and expected duration of shelter-

in-place scenarios.

4) Integration with Evacuation Planning

a) Align shelter-in-place options with evacuation zones and routes to ensure

coordinated response strategies.

Phase 3 – Draft Evacuation Plan

1) Evacuation Zone Definition

a) Define zones based on risk exposure, population density, and access.

Request for Proposals

122025-1005-Tideflats Evacuation Plan

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