North Station, Charles River Draw, & Tower A

[Charlie_mta]

The “best successful value proposer” is Skanska

https://bc.mbta.com/business_center/bidding_solicitations/current_solicitations/?dbid=30055

That link is really informative. Thanks! One thing that's unfortunate is the need to raise and modify the existing North Bank Pedestrian Bridge to accommodate the new track alignment. That pedestrian bridge was built just a few years ago, and it seems they could have anticipated this project in its design.

 

[RandomWalk]

That list of precluded firms is interesting. There are some big names in there.

 

[Stlin]

That list of precluded firms is interesting. There are some big names in there.

The MBTA's preclusion list, unlike MassDOTs and the states, doesn't imply bad faith or conduct that would be disqualifying of a contractor. Its more that these firms in this particular case know a lot more about this bridge, so are precluded from bidding on it as they have insider knowledge. In this case, STV, HNTB and TRC as a JV had won design and engineering contracts for Draw 1 way back in 2019; those renders we've see of Draw 1 are actually from STV, and their work makes up most of the preliminary stuff complete to date.

STV Helps MBTA Win Historic $472 Million MPDG MEGA Grant

BOSTON, MA – STV, a leading professional services firm that plans, designs and manages infrastructure projects across North America, today announced it has played a key role in securing a $472 million MPDG Mega grant

stvinc.com

 

[4300th]

Wouldn't having extensive knowledge from a previous contract to study the bridge help with designing the replacement bridge, and wouldn't that be desirable? It does give them a (potentially unfair) advantage against other bidders, but precluding firms that did preliminary work from bidding on the subsequent design/build contract seems odd.

 

[bigpicture7]

Wouldn't having extensive knowledge from a previous contract to study the bridge help with designing the replacement bridge, and wouldn't that be desirable? It does give them a (potentially unfair) advantage against other bidders, but precluding firms that did preliminary work from bidding on the subsequent design/build contract seems odd.

An expert could check me on this, but I might guess two things:
1) It was likely known well in advance by STV that by participating in the earlier design contract, they'd be ineligible to be the lead contractor to general manage the whole construction project (and I think chose to participate knowing that) (this might apply to others involved earlier as well), yet
2) I don't think they'd be ineligible for future/continued consulting contracts to the prime contractor. In other words, they are not blocked from contributing their expertise to earn more contract money; they just can't be the prime.
Again, all best guesses...

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

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cdn.mbta.com

MBTA Board to vote in Skanska tomorrow.