Call 032 CN261039

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has issued solicitation CN261039 for construction activities adjacent to Norfolk Southern railway infrastructure, with work centered in Knox, Tennessee. This solicitation governs excavation within 10 feet of track centerline, limited to 24 inches below the top of rail, and mandates strict adherence to safety protocols including OSHA-approved handrails, 25-foot ballast protection zones, and prohibition of equipment contact with railroad rails or standing trains. The contract requires compliance with industry standards such as AREMA, ASTM A709 Grade 50, ASTM A325, and AWS D1.5 for welding, alongside EPA and OSHA environmental and safety regulations. Submittals must include approved shop drawings, detailed work progression plans, equipment location strategies, and test reports for materials, with all nondestructive testing, including 100% magnetic particle inspection of transverse tension groove welds, to be witnessed by Railroad inspectors. The contract is structured as a unit-price, firm fixed price arrangement governed by TDOT’s Standard Specifications and Special Provisions, with contract execution required within 10 days of award. Proposal submissions must be made electronically to [email hidden] and include all required certifications, most notably mandatory affirmation of the Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters, with supplemental explanations required if any affirmative response is negative. No requirement exists for Unique Entity Identifier, CAGE code, size status, or DBE self-certification, though federal DBE participation goals apply to funding. Special contractual requirements focus heavily on railway safety and operational control, including prohibitions on touching the ballast line, moving equipment within 25 feet of standing trains, and storing materials on railroad property without authorization. Equipment must be immobilized when unattended, crane booms must be turned away from tracks, and constant communication with Contractor Protective Services is mandatory during lifting operations. Contractors must appoint a Sponsor’s Engineer as the primary liaison with Norfolk Southern and are held fully liable for safety violations and emergency response costs. Pre-work notifications are required at least seven days before excavation near buried utilities, and shoring with tiebacks is prohibited without explicit approval. While no formal packaging, preservation, or marking standards are specified, handling of shop-primed steel requires nylon web slings or padded lifting points to protect coatings, and surfaces must be primed the same day they are blast-cleaned. Inspection occurs at the project site, with acceptance contingent on compliance