DTD Active Transportation Grants Evaluation Effort

2026-11-03

This request for proposals is seeking an evaluation contractor with a proven ability toconduct portfolio - wide evaluation of infrastructure projects , related behavior - basedinterventions and studies for active transportation grant investments . In addition , thiscontractor will have proven abilities to create an evaluation framework andcorresponding tools that are easy to implement and applicable to the entire grantportfolio for on - going evaluation management efforts by both staff and grantees , longafter the contract is completed . The contractor must be able to demonstrate expertisein program evaluation ( as opposed to research ), demonstrate a long - standing history ofdelivering customer excellence , accountability to deliverable timelines and outcomes , and the proven capacity to effectively deliver projects on budget and with the rightlevel of expertise on staff . Project Title : Active Transportation Grants Evaluation EffortStart & End : 2026 - 2027Major Question to Answer : Seek to understand if the grant investments in activetransportation infrastructure and amenities are achieving the economic , environmental and health benefits as the research suggests . Deliverables : 1 . Complete and document a final evaluation of active transportation grants atCDOT . 2 . Create an Evaluation Plan and related tools for usage after the contract iscompleted that are culturally relevant and at a reading level that is inclusive of allpopulations in Colorado . Boundaries : Project boundaries are inside the state of Colorado , and focused on activetransportation infrastructure and amenities administered by CDOT project managersRFP 26 - 033 NM Page 5 of 25with public grant funds awarded in the past , and those project types eligible for futureawards . C . Background1 . HistoryThe Colorado Department of Transportation ( CDOT ) exists to provide the best multimodaltransportation system for Colorado that most effectively and safely movespeople , goods , and information . A good transportation system allows us to safely getto the places we need to go and want to go , and supports recreational movementbased activities . One of the most vital transportation mechanisms available to allpeople is active transportation , which is any human - scale and typically humanpoweredmode of transportation such as walking or cycling . As a result , it is essentialthat communities receive access to resources to strengthen their ability to deliversafer active transportation infrastructure and environments . This includes studying , designing , creating , maintaining , and expanding safe active transportationinfrastructure and amenities . CDOT delivers funds for active transportation throughgrant programs to promote safe access to active transportation for all people inColorado . 2 . Current Challenges and OpportunitiesCDOT makes investments in the state owned transportation system as well as systemsowned by local jurisdictions . Those investments in local transportation systems havesignificantly increased in volume and sources of funding in recent years . These fundsare considered passthrough grants to local grantees , which includes both public andprivate entities . This fund portfolio includes a mixture of state and federal pools withspecific requirements relevant to each type of funding . CDOT currently administers 7 grant programs that aim to award at least a portion offunds to active transportation improvements . Both the number of grant programs , andthe size of existing grant programs , have expanded significantly over the last fiveyears , resulting in an award allocation of approximately $ 60 , 000 , 000 annually . Thecurrent process of CDOT active transportation grant making involves variousmechanisms for capturing some quantitative and qualitative outputs , however theRFP 26 - 033 NM Page 6 of 25process is not consistent across all programs , therefore we currently are unable totrack shared outputs and ultimately portfolio outcomes . 3 . Relevant Stakeholders and Their RolesCDOT Project Management Team : The primary CDOT contacts for this evaluationeffort , consisting of grant managers and active transportation staff . This team will beaccountable to oversee the vendor contract and ensure expected outcomes areachieved . This team will coordinate all final acceptance of deliverables with allnecessary CDOT stakeholders . Upon award selection , name of primary project pointsof contact will be provided , which may change at any time . Notification of staffchanges will be shared if / when changes occur . CDOT Grant Functional Area Subject Matter Experts : Will provide details on specificgrant portfolio and project resources and will be available for direction and to askquestions . The contractor shall maintain a project management team and primary points ofcontact during all phases of the project . The contractor is expected to maintain staffwith technical expertise in public health and transportation evaluation , relevantmethods experience , financial analysis , team management , project management , cultural awareness and inclusive communication . The project management team shallbe responsible for communication with the CDOT team on all matters related toproject execution and implementation . Any concerns discovered regarding complianceto any technical or program requirements shall be immediately sent to the CDOTproject management team via email with separate time for resolution identified inthe next project status meeting . The contractor is the sole responsible entity for final deliverable submission andproject completion . The contractor shall make CDOT aware of any impediments thatprohibit the completion of any deliverables that need CDOT input unless alreadystated . Contractor shall submit a progress report and invoice CDOT on a monthly basis , by thefifteenth ( 15th ) business day of the month following the month for which the servicesRFP 26 - 033 NM Page 7 of 25and costs are incurred . Invoices shall identify the Original Contract Routing No . Contractor shall not invoice CDOT for a month prior to the last day of that month . Contractor shall provide backup documentation supporting all charges listed on eachinvoice at the request of CDOT . Monthly reports and invoices must be submitted toCDOT via email . D . Overview and GoalsThis request for proposals is seeking an evaluation contractor with a proven ability toconduct portfolio - wide evaluation of infrastructure projects , related behavior - basedinterventions and studies for active transportation grant investments . In addition , this contractor will have proven abilities to create an evaluation framework andcorresponding tools that are easy to implement and applicable to the entire grantportfolio for on - going evaluation management efforts by both staff and grantees , long after the contract is completed . The contractor must be able to demonstrateexpertise in program evaluation ( as opposed to research ), demonstrate a longstandinghistory of delivering customer excellence , accountability to deliverabletimelines and outcomes , and the proven capacity to effectively deliver projects onbudget and with the right level of expertise on staff . Major Question to Answer : 1 . Seek to understand if the grant investments in active transportationinfrastructure and amenities are achieving the economic , environmental and healthbenefits as the research suggests . 2 . Create an Evaluation Plan and related tools for usage after the contract iscompleted that are culturally relevant and at a reading level that is inclusive of allpopulations in Colorado . CDOT manages the active transportation grant portfolio under currently existingstrategies and goals . The existing strategies and goals that need to be integratedinto the evaluation plan include : 1 . Policy Directive 14 : the framework for Colorado ’ s 2050 transportation planwhich guides strategic direction and investments . a . Advancing Transportation Safety - Reduce the number of traffic - relatedfatalities and serious injuries involving Vulnerable Road Users by 50 % from the 2023 baseline before 2037 . RFP 26 - 033 NM Page 8 of 25b . Sustainably Increasing Transportation Choice via Clean Transportation - Reduce surface transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions ( CO2e ) by 60 % on or before 2037 , compared to the 2005 baseline . 2 . CDOT Wildly Important GoalsIncrease the expenditure of grant funds for active transportation , multimodal , and transportation demand management projects from $ 30 . 9 million in fiscalyear 2024 to $ 33 . 6 million by June 30 , 2025 . 3 . The CDOT Active Transportation Plan is currently in development . Strategiesand goals in the updated plan will be determined by Spring of 2025 . See more

Colorado

2026-04-28