RFQP-0000000018 - Purisima Creek Trail Slide and Bridge Repair Project

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is pleased to announce the opportunity to provide professional design and engineering services for the Purisima Creek Trail Slide and Bridge Repair (Project) at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (“Project”). Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) financial assistance will be used to fund all or a portion of the Project.

In the winter storms of 2023/24, six (6) sites along the outside edge of the Purisima Creek Trail (dirt road) washed out / failed impeding safe vehicle passage for District (or other) emergency access and maintenance vehicles. In addition, the abutments on two (2) repurposed rail car bridges were also undercut by stream bank erosion impeding safe passage. A detailed assessments and evaluation of the extent of road and bridge damage was completed in January 2024 by Timothy C. Best, CEG, and a report was developed that provides preliminary and conceptual recommendations, and present high level cost estimates to reopen the road and bridge crossings at an 8’ width for Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) access.  This RFPQ seeks to procure the most-qualified team to further develop and build upon the initial assessments and proposed repairs into a schematic design, progress it through design development, document the design for permitting and construction, support the bid process and engage in construction administration.

Project Design Objectives and Requirements  

Purisima Bridges 1 & 2
Bridge PC 1 - The project proposes to remove the existing log abutments and reset the current 52’ long by 8’ wide rail car bridge on new concrete abutments, including armoring both channel banks with rock rip rap, allowing for continued UTV and recreational trail access.   
  
Bridge PC-2 – The project proposes to remove the existing 41’ long by 8’ wide rail car bridge and replace it with a new 60’ long by 8’ wide bridge for continued UTV and recreational trail access.  The existing bridge is too short and channel banks too unstable to be reused.   
 
Purisima Creek Trail Slides 1-6 
The project proposes to 1) remove slope failure material, 2) grade into the inboard hillside to reestablish a UTV-width trail bed, and 3) install rock slope protection on the downslope edge of the trail failure areas to armor and anchor the trail slope.  The project also proposes to remove trees as needed and utilize for slide anchoring, to grade and rock new trail alignment, and to install erosion control BMP’s and seeding within slide material areas above and below the new trail alignment.  

The project is anticipated to be constructed over two separate construction seasons and bid as two separate projects (Phase I and Phase II).  Therefore, Tasks 1 and 2 of the Scope of Work will be performed once and used to inform the remainder of work on the Project. Tasks 3-5 will be performed twice, once for each of Phase I and Phase II. The Phase I scope of work consists of completing all necessary repairs to Bridge 1 and 2, and Slide 5.  The Phase II scope of work consists of completing all necessary repairs to Slides 1-4 and Slide 6.

RFQP and Award of Contract Schedule
The following is a tentative schedule that is subject to change.

2/19/25:  RFQP Release
3/5/25:  Pre-Proposal Site Tour
3/12/25:  Pre-Proposal Site Tour
3/25/25:  Deadline to receive questions
4/1/25:  Final Addendum Issued
4/10/25:  Deadline to receive proposals (4:00 PM) 
4/15/25:  Firm presentations / interviews (if deemed necessary)
4/16/25:  Ditrict issues final rankings
4/17/25:  Begin negotiations with top-ranked firm(s)
5/14/25:  Board of Directors approves contract

Proposal Submittal
One (1) copy of each final proposal is to be submitted in electronic format (Microsoft Word and/or Adobe PDF) by 4:00 PM, April 10, 2025, to Zachary Alexander, Senior Capital Project Manager, (zalexander@openspace.org). The District at its sole discretion may grant an extension to all candidates if circumstances require additional time. 

Pre-Proposal Site Tours
Pre-Proposal site tours have been scheduled for Wednesday March 5th and 12th at 10:00 am.  Please RSVP to Zachary Alexander (zalexander@openspace.org) by the day prior to confirm attendance and receive directions to the meeting locations.  Notifications will be given to all interested firms if the site tours are rescheduled.

Visiting the Project Site
Purisima Creek Trail and the associated project sites are open to public access during normal preserve operating hours.