South Dakota Posting Board #26RFP19801

SDDOT Solicits Proposals for State Rail Plan Update and Napa-Platte Railway Feasibility Study

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) is seeking proposals for two major initiatives to support state rail infrastructure and planning: - Update the South Dakota State Rail Plan in accordance with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) guidelines - Integrate findings from the Napa-Platte Railway (NPRW) feasibility study into the updated plan - Deliverables include technical memoranda, presentations to the South Dakota Railroad Board, and a final FRA-approved State Rail Plan - Conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for the state-owned Napa-Platte Railway (NPRW) - Assess current condition, ownership, market potential, and phased restoration/investment options - Evaluate the feasibility of restoring service, potential for railbanking, and public investment recommendations - Include stakeholder engagement, market analysis, and grant strategy development - Notable requirements: - All deliverables must comply with Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards - Open to research institutes, consultants, and agencies with relevant transportation and rail planning experience - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named in the solicitation - Total available funding is $350,000 - Anticipated project duration is 20 months, with phased deliverables and milestone-based payments - Primary locations include the South Dakota Department of Transportation offices and the Napa-Platte Railway corridor

Description

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) is soliciting proposals to update the South Dakota State Rail Plan and conduct a feasibility study on the Napa-Platte Railway (NPRW). The project aims to meet federal requirements for state rail plans and assess the feasibility of phased restoration and investment in the NPRW, which has experienced a decline in railway business. The study will evaluate ownership, condition, market potential, and phasing options, integrating findings with the State Rail Plan. Proposals are due by June 4, 2026, and will be evaluated by SDDOT staff and a technical panel.

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