Infra Insight Blog

On July 31, 2014, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) soliciting qualifications from teams interested in entering into a design-build contract and a comprehensive maintenance agreement for the Grand Parkway Segments H, I-1 and I-2 Project.  Following a two-month process, which included questions and answers from interested industry participants and an industry workshop, TxDOT received Qualification Statements on September 30, 2014. Over the next month, the Qualification Statements were evaluated by TxDOT.  On October 30, 2014, TxDOT announced the short list of the teams most qualified to compete for the Grand Parkway Segments H, I-1 and I-2 contracts. Below is a listing of the shortlisted teams, along with the major equity members, that will be invited to submit detailed proposals.

• FBW LLC: Fluor Enterprises, Inc., Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc., Williams Brothers Construction Co., Inc.
• Zachry/Odebrecht/Parkway Builders: Zachry Construction Corporation, Odebrecht Construction, Inc., Traylor Bros., Inc.
• Grand Parkway Infrastructure: Ferrovial Agroman US Corp., Webber, LLC, Granite Construction Company

TxDOT anticipates issuing a draft Request for Proposals in early November and the final Request for Proposals in December 2014, with the expectation that the winning proposer will be selected and the contracts awarded in April 2015.

State Highway 99, also known as Grand Parkway, is a proposed 180-mile circumferential highway traversing seven counties in the Greater Houston Area.  The shortlisted teams will compete for the latest TxDOT project for segments of the Grand Parkway.  TxDOT is developing Grand Parkway Segments F1, F2 and G through a comprehensive development agreement awarded in 2013 to Zachry Odebrecht Parkway Builders.

Grand Parkway Segments H, I-1 and I-2 is a 52-mile, controlled-access facility that will traverse four counties from US 59 to the SH 146.  One of the goals for the Grand Parkway Segments H, I-1 and I-2 Project is to sustain and expand economic opportunities in the region.

Design and construction costs for the project are estimated to be in the range of approximately $830 million, exclusive of right of way and maintenance costs. The design-build contract and comprehensive maintenance agreement will require the selected bidder to design and build the project and then maintain the project for 25 years after completion.

This is one of several active mega design/build projects being pursued by TxDOT, including the Harbor Bridge Project in the Corpus Christi area.