BART Silicon Valley Phase II Project: Early Contractor Engagement Begins

The expansion of the BART Silicon Valley extension into Downtown Santa Clara and San Jose is entering the preparation stage of the project. Currently for this huge project, at an early design step, the preparation process starts with searching out contractors and subcontractors to first provide feedback, second respond to requests for proposals, then finally finish the design and physically construct the 6-mile extension of the system containing four stations.

On 16th September, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) released a RFIF (Request for Industry Feedback). This RFIF is the first one of four and related to the upcoming contract for tunnel and track work. RFIFs are being issued to measure interest in the four major project-pertained contracts from the transit design-build contractor community, and to acquire specific feedback on the scope of the contract.

The four contract categories are as follow:

1. Tunnel and Track work containing procurement of the tunnel boring machine, long tunnel conveyors, the bored tunnel construction, precast tunnel lining and tunnel interior structures, containing station platforms.

2. Systems containing system wide fixtures/equipment like tunnel lighting, huge emergency ventilation fans, bulk power supply stations, communication systems, line electrical, traction power, radio and Train Control.

3. Stations containing station structure and platform, utilities, site preparation work, underground station support of excavation installation and ventilation and egress shaft.

4. Santa Clara Station/Newhall Yard, containing yard track and rail, civil site restoration and demobilization, Maintenance and Operations Yard and buildings, and the full construction of the street level Santa Clara Station and parking garage.

An RFIF for the Systems contract will issue by the end of the month, with the other two contract RFIFs to be declared later. Early building activities are scheduled to start in 2022 with substantial construction fulfilled by 2028, followed by integration, systems testing, and safety certification.

VTA encourages certified DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) looking for construction, purchasing and professional services contracts to register to become a vendor with VTA. For those businesses potentially acceptable and not yet certified, VTA can help with certification once needed.

VTA’s Business Diversity Programs contain DBE (the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) Program for federally financed projects, SBE (the Small Business Enterprise) Program for state financed projects and the Minority, Women, Disabled Veterans and LGBT Business Enterprise Programs for locally financed projects.

Visit https://www.vta.org/business-center to register and become a vendor with VTA, receive information about upcoming solicitations and more.

Learn more about VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Project at https://www.vta.org/projects/bart-sv/phase-ii/contracting.