The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will host a Design Build Contract Information Forum for the BART Silicon Valley Project at the San Jose Convention Center, Thursday, September 30, 2010.

The forum will provide the contractor community an opportunity to learn specifics about the upcoming design build project for the 10-mile Berryessa Extension, the first phase of the 16-mile BART Extension into Santa Clara County. The program will include details about the project, and the upcoming design build contract, including the procurement process and schedule. The event will also provide a networking opportunity for subprime, disadvantaged and small business enterprises to meet with prime contractors.

Over 350 members of the contractor community are registered to attend the forum and learn about the upcoming contract, which includes the line tracks, stations and systems. A Request for Qualifications will be issued October 15, 2010. The contract is estimated at approximately $785 million. VTA plans to issue the Request for Proposals in early 2011 and is tentatively scheduled to award the contract in the fall of 2011, following approval from the VTA Board of Directors.

VTA General Manager Michael T. Burns is presenting at the forum and understands that the procurement process for the BART Silicon Valley Project comes in the midst of challenging financial times for many in the contractor community. 

"The industry forum is a pivotal step in the design-build procurement process and will provide important information to the contractor community as we move forward with the first phase of bringing BART to Silicon Valley," said Burns.

In May 2010, the VTA Board of Directors authorized VTA's General Manager to pursue Design Build as the delivery method for the BART Berryessa Extension Project. The design-build method of project delivery involves selecting a contractor to perform both final design and construction under a single contract.

VTA is seeking $900 million in federal funds for the Berryessa Extension Project through the Federal Transit Administration's New Starts program, with the balance of capital funding provided by state and local sources including 2000 Measure A revenues.

Bay Area Rapid Transit Silicon Valley Project is a 16-mile extension of the existing BART system to San Jose, Milpitas and Santa Clara, which will be delivered through a phased approach. The first phase, the Berryessa Extension, is a 10-mile, two-station extension, beginning in Fremont at the future BART Warm Springs Station and proceeding on the former Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way through Milpitas, the location of the first station, and goes to the Berryessa area of north San Jose, at the second station. VTA continues the design and engineering for the second six-mile phase of the project that includes a 5.1-mile-long subway tunnel through downtown San Jose, and ends at grade in Santa Clara near the Caltrain Station. Construction on the second phase of the project will commence as additional funding is secured.