The full RFQ is available at https://www.29palmstribe.org/request-for-proposals/request-for-proposals-and-qualifications/.

Introduction

The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians (the Tribe) is a federally recognized tribe located in southern California. The Tribe is soliciting proposals from qualified vendors to provide design services for the replacement of the Dillon Road Bridge and widening of Dillon Road in Coachella, California. Both facilities will have six lanes.

The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians has the legal contracting and administrative authority to replace the Dillon Road bridge as the designated Lead Agency under California Assembly Bill 2261 (AB 2261).

The Tribe intends to finance the Project with federal, State of California, and local funds, including funds provided by the Federal Highway Transportation Administration (FHW) Highway Bridge Program (HBP) and Congressionally Directed Spending appropriations administered by Caltrans and Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  These funding programs require that certain state and federal requirements apply to the Agreement for the Work. The Tribe will act as the designated recipient for any federal funds made available for the Project.

Any services or Work performed must be consistent and/or compliant with the conditions set forth within the following:

• Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM), Caltrans, January 2026
• Caltrans Highway Bridge Program Guidance

Purpose and Overview of RFQ

The following list provides a general overview of information related to the subject of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

1. The Tribe is issuing this RFQ to receive Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified firms (Offeror) for Design Services for the Dillion Road Bridge Replacement and Road Widening Project. The purpose of this RFQ is to award an agreement (Agreement) to one successful Offeror (Consultant) to advance design of the Project, develop a final plans, specifications, and estimates package (PS&E), and provide design support through construction.
2. This procurement consists of evaluating SOQs and Interviews in response to this RFQ with the intent to award an Agreement to a successful, responsive, qualified Offeror whose qualifications conform to the requirements of this RFQ and are considered the most qualified by the Tribe.
3. The term of the Agreement resulting from this RFQ will be 4 years. No Work may begin prior to the receipt of an NTP. The Consultant is expected to work diligently to complete the work no later than the end of the contract.
4. Executing an Agreement is not a guarantee of Work; the actual amount of Work requested by the Tribe under the Agreement resulting from this RFQ may be less.
5. Any services to be provided by the successful Offeror shall only be performed pursuant to a task order that provides a detailed description of the services to be performed, the time for the Work to be performed, not-to-exceed amount to be charged, and estimated costs.
6. The services described herein are not exclusive, and the Tribe reserves the right to enter into other agreements covering the same or similar services, or to perform the same or similar services itself or through its agents.
7. The Tribe requires its professional consultants to provide services that meet or exceed the applicable professional standard(s) of care and produce deliverables of the highest quality within a constrained schedule to meet program commitments. It is acknowledged by the Offeror that time is of the essence in the performance of each assigned task. The services, and any defined deliverables, shall be completed and delivered to the Tribe, or its agent, in a prompt and timely manner so as to permit the effective review and deployment of the deliverable by the Tribe during and throughout the performance of any Agreement resulting from this procurement.
8. The Consultant will be required to comply with all applicable state and federal prevailing wage laws and must provide a Prevailing Wage Policy if their participation includes prevailing-wage work.
9. The RFQ process will be conducted in accordance with 40 USC 1101, et seq., 23 CFR 127, and the Caltrans Local Assistance Procedures Manual, and the evaluation/selection will be based on the factors/criteria contained in Attachments A through C.
10. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals are currently not required.
11. Negotiations shall be held with the top ranked Offeror.
12. This solicitation and related documents are available on the Tribe’s website at https://www.29palmstribe.org/, unless otherwise noted in this RFQ.
13. All questions regarding this RFQ must be submitted in writing to the email address of the Designated Point of Contact in Section 3.1 of this RFQ by the date and time listed in Section 3.0, Table 1, Key RFQ Dates. All such questions should use the subject line: Dillon Road Design RFQ. Responses to questions submitted will be posted athttps://www.29palmstribe.org/for the benefit of all Offerors.

Background for the RFQ

The Tribe is requesting SOQs from qualified architectural and engineering consulting teams, to perform design services for delivery of the PS&E package for the Dillon Road Bridge Replacement and Road Widening project within the eastern Coachella Valley region in Riverside County. The successful Offeror will also provide design support for the project through construction.

Project Site

The Project consists of widening the Dillon Road corridor between SR 86 and Cabazon Road, and replacing the current bridge over the Whitewater River. The existing bridge is classified as structurally deficient and has a sufficiency rating of 16.6. The existing bridge is scour critical with instability predicted at multiple bents, and does not meet current geometric, safety, bicycle, and pedestrian standards. The ultimate build out for the Project envisions a six-lane major arterial corridor with multimodal accommodations, and up to a six-lane bridge.

This Project has been determined to be a NEPA Categorical Exclusion under 23 USC 237. The Date of Categorical Exclusion Checklist completion was December 3, 2021, and the date of Environmental Commitment Record was December 1, 2021.

The Consultant will be responsible for validating the right-of-way needs for the Project. Additional right-of-way will likely be required to complete the Project.

General RFQ Scope of Services

The Consultant will be responsible for completing all relevant project documentation, final design and construction ready documents up to and including preparation of the PS&E package, and design support throughout construction for the Dillon Road Bridge Replacement and Road Widening project as detailed in Attachment D to this RFQ.

• The following milestone submittals are anticipated:
  • 30% PS&E
  • 60% PS&E
  • 90% PS&E
  • 100% final design and construction ready documents (to be issued for Bid)