Sources Sought
Build America Bureau - Technical Advisor
Department of Transportation · Federal Highway Administration · Sol. LTA_2026_RFI
Due in 18 days
AI summary Beta
The Federal Highway Administration, for the U.S. DOT Build America Bureau (Washington, DC), is doing market research for a future contract for independent Lender's Technical Advisory services. The advisor would review the engineering, cost, schedule and construction progress of big transportation and related projects the Bureau lends to (TIFIA and RRIF loans). This is a Sources Sought / RFI, not a solicitation, and responses are due October 27, 2026.
Watch out for
- Very broad scope for one firm. The Bureau expects expertise in highway, rail, aviation, ports, transit-oriented development and project finance, so a small firm would likely need teaming partners.
eligible project universe (below) is unusually broad for a single lender:
- Lender-side finance experience expected. The work is independent advice to a lender, not owner's representation or project management, so general engineering or PM experience may not count.
The Bureau is not procuring owner's representation, program management, or
- RFI only, no commitment. Responding does not guarantee a future solicitation or award, and the Government will not pay for response costs.
NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations.
- Conflicting due dates in attachments. The original RFI attachment (LTA RFI -9.4.26.pdf) says October 8, 2026, while the amendment and notice say October 27, 2026; follow the amended date.
Response due date updated to October 27 to allow the Government additional time to respond to questions.
- Question deadline has passed. Questions on this RFI were due September 15, 2026, so any clarification would have to go in the separate comments document.
QUESTIONS: Submit any questions on this RFI no later than 9/15/26.
- Tight page limit. Everything must fit in seven pages, so responses need to be concise.
Not more than seven pages in length, including all items submitted (not including
Read from the notice and 2 attachments.
- LTA RFI -Amendement 1.pdf
- LTA RFI -9.4.26.pdf
Full brief
What they want
- Task 1: Prescreen: quick readiness reviews of projects at the Letter of Interest and pre-application stage
- Task 2: Pre-closing technical due diligence: engineering, cost estimates, schedules, permits, procurement structure and demand/revenue assumptions before a loan commitment
- Task 3: Technical input into financing documents and support to Bureau counsel and credit staff in negotiations
- Task 4: Construction monitoring and disbursement verification: certifying draw requests, site visits, monthly progress reports
- Task 5: Post-closing asset management and risk support (ad hoc), including workouts and restructurings
- Task 6: Program-level advisory support (ad hoc): standards, checklists, benchmarking studies and staff training
- Capability across many asset classes: highway, transit, intercity and freight rail, ports, aviation, transit-oriented development and more
- Feedback on the draft scope of work, the contract structure (such as multiple-award IDIQ or BPA), and pricing
- Contract type
- Not decided. Work would be ordered by task order. The RFI asks industry whether a multiple-award IDIQ, BPA or other vehicle is best.
- Place of performance
- Washington, DC per the notice. Work covers projects financed across the nation, including site visits.
- Contract vehicle
- None required. Respondents are asked to list any GSA schedule, GSA OASIS+ or other governmentwide contract numbers they hold, if applicable.
- How they'll choose
- Not applicable. This is market research and no award is made from it. Responses are used to decide the method of procurement.
- Offers due
- October 27, 2026, 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
- How to submit
- Email to Josephine.Helms@dot.gov and Carolyn.Lethert@dot.gov; electronic only, no hard copies
- Page limits
- Not more than seven pages including all items (cover page, table of contents and acronym list do not count). Within that: capability response of no more than 2 pages and acquisition feedback of no more than 5 pages. 8.5x11 pages, 1 inch margins, 12 point or larger font, Word or PDF.
What to include when you submit
- Include a cover page (not counted in the page limit) with company name, primary contact with phone and email, and SAM.gov UEI
- Cover page also needs a NAICS statement on whether 541330 fits and any other NAICS that could apply
- List GSA contract number and schedule, GSA OASIS+ contract number and any other governmentwide contract vehicles, if applicable
- State all business size classifications under NAICS 541330 (small, woman-owned, 8(a), SDB, HUBZone, SDVOB, non-profit, other) and say whether you can do the whole requirement alone or with subcontractors
- Answer six capability questions (a to f) covering lender's advisor experience, asset classes covered in-house vs by partners, whether one prime can cover everything, capacity, IDIQ/BPA experience, and TOD/vertical real estate capability
- Optionally answer the 20 acquisition feedback questions on contract structure, speed, pricing and small business roles, noting question numbers
- Do not submit proprietary information
- Questions or comments on the draft scope of work can go in a separate labeled document that does not count toward the page limit
You must have
- No set-aside is used for this notice; the Government is also gathering size and small business status (small, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB) to choose the acquisition strategy.
- SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEI) must be given on the cover page.
SAM.GOV Unique Entity ID (UEI)
- Relevant experience: prior service as an independent engineer or lender's technical advisor for lenders, rating agencies, insurers, credit institutions or public credit programs is described as the most relevant.
Prior service as independent engineer or lender's technical advisor for
- Respondents should say which capabilities they hold in-house, which they would team for, and which they consider unrealistic; final requirements will come in any later solicitation.
Not in the notice text
- Estimated contract value, ceiling and minimum guarantee are not stated (the RFI asks respondents what would be attractive)
- Period of performance and ordering period are not stated
- Contract type and whether awards would be segmented by asset class are not decided
- Whether a set-aside will be used in the future solicitation is not stated
- Current incumbent or existing Lender's Technical Advisory contractor is not named
- Final evaluation criteria and conflict of interest requirements are not given
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 27, 2026, 2:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Oct 6, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Solicitation
- LTA_2026_RFI
- Agency
- Department of Transportation · Federal Highway Administration
- Office
- 693JJ3 Acquisition and Grants MGT
- Set-aside
- No Set aside used
- NAICS
- 541330
- Product/service code
- R425
- Business type
- Engineering, architecture & research
- Place of performance
- Washington, DC
- Contracting contact
- Carolyn Lethertcarolyn.lethert@dot.gov
- Versions
- 2 (amended since first posted)
Full notice text from SAM.gov
This is a sources sought/request for information. The Federal Highway Administration is conducting market research to identify potential sources for an anticipated contract for the Build America Bureau. Please submit questions on this opportunity no later than September 15, 2026. Response due date updated to October 27 to allow the Government additional time to respond to questions.
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