The Maryland Transportation Authority this week began the formal process of finding a contractor for the next phase of the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement, after parting ways with the phase one contractor over costs this spring.
The authority Tuesday issued a request for qualifications, or RFQ, from prospective contractors on the major part of the replacement project: construction of the main span bridge and of marine approaches of the bridge, which will straddle the shipping channel into the Port of Baltimore.
“Maryland is working expeditiously to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge and this step is the first major milestone in assembling our construction team,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson, who acts as chair of the MdTA board, in a statement from the authority.
According to an MdTA news release, the request for qualifications starts a “two-step, competitive, sealed proposal process to select a design-build team for the contract.” After reviewing the RFQs, authority staff will compile a shortlist of contractors, who will be invited to submit bids in response to a request for proposals, or RFP.
