Request for Special Pre-Qualifications

For the Final Design and Construction of the

Palisades Tunnels in New Jersey

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ENTITIES SEEKING PRE-QUALIFICATION 1. STATEMENT OF WORK

This is a design-build Project that requires the Contractor to design and construct the Work. The Contractor, through itself and others, shall provide professional engineering services as well as technical and other services necessary for the preparation of the Final Design Drawings and Specifications. The Contractor shall also furnish all labor, equipment, materials, project management, quality control/quality assurance, and engineering services required for the construction of the Work, in accordance with the requirements of the Contract.

The Project must comply with all requirements relating to the use of federal funds.

2. PROJECT SYNOPSIS

The purpose of the Trans-Hudson Express (THE) Project is to increase Trans-Hudson commuter rail capacity to accommodate projected ridership growth from rail lines west of the Hudson River; enhance passenger convenience via a transfer-free ride on many NJ TRANSIT lines; and improve system reliability between the Frank R. Lautenberg Station in Secaucus, New Jersey and midtown Manhattan. “THE Project” traverses a 9.0-mile area within Kearny, Secaucus, North Bergen, Union City, and Hoboken in New Jersey, the Hudson River, and the Borough of Manhattan to West 34th Street in New York City.

“THE Project” will provide two (2) new tracks just south of AMTRAK’s existing Northeast Corridor between the west end of the Frank R. Lautenberg Station and the west side of the Palisades in New Jersey. The new tunnels will then descend and turn under the Palisades through Union City, North Bergen, and Hoboken, then cross under the Hudson River from Hoboken and under the east shore bulkhead in New York City near West 28th Street, then turn northeasterly and pass under West 34th Street to the site of the future NY Penn Station Expansion (NYPSE). (Refer to Figure 1.)

Figure 1. THE Program Alignment 3. CONTRACT DESCRIPTION

The Palisades Tunnels Contract extends from the east face of the Tonnelle Avenue (Routes 1 and 9) Underpass to the Hoboken access shaft. It includes a track open cut to a portal structure at the west face of the Western Slope (Palisades) then turns into two (2) TBM bored tunnels through the Palisades hard rock to the Hoboken access shaft. The twin tunnels will be approximately 5,200 feet long, and will have a finished inside diameter of approximately 24’ 6”.

The majority of the Palisades running TBM tunnels are expected to be excavated in the Palisades diabase. Very limited sections at the west end near Tonnelle Avenue will be excavated in Stockton sandstone and Lockatong siltstone. It is anticipated that the portion of the Palisades Tunnels excavated through inter-layered sedimentary rock types includes sandstone and inter-layered argillite, shale, and siltstone.

Cross-passages shall be required in the Palisades tunnels. These cross-passages shall be excavated between the two (2) running tunnels by conventional drill and blast techniques.

4. DESCRIPTION OF CONTRACT WORK ELEMENTS The following design and construction Work includes, but is not limited to:

a) Final design of the Work.

b) Procure hard rock tunnel boring machine (TBM). c) At Tonnelle Avenue site procure construction power from PSE&G

of approximately 6+ MW and construct construction power substation.

d) At Hoboken site procure construction power from PSE&G. e) Demolish existing buildings at both the Tonnelle Avenue and

Hoboken sites to establish Contractor’s staging area. f) Remove existing piles at demolished building on the Hoboken

site. g) Excavate open cut from east face of Tonnelle Avenue Underpass

to the portal in the west face of the Western Slope (Palisades). h) Construct open cut retaining walls and portal structure. i) Excavate and construct a construction shaft approximately 115’ in

diameter and approximately 125’ in depth, utilizing concrete diaphragm wall via slurry trench method; socket concrete diaphragm wall into rock.

j) Bore two (2) tunnels easterly terminating at the Hoboken access shaft (5,200 feet each).

k) Implement necessary measures to limit draw down of water table at the Hoboken access shaft.

l) At the Hoboken site and its access road coordinate with appropriate jurisdictions and implement Maintenance and Protection of Traffic.

m) At the Hoboken site coordinate, furnish and install temporary and/or permanent relocation of utilities.

n) Furnish and install temporary plumbing stations, sump pits and sewer connections, and grade shaft site.

o) Furnish and install lining within the bored tunnels. p) Excavate cross passages (drill and blast). q) Furnish and install lining for the cross passages. r) Coordinate with adjacent contractor of the Hudson River Tunnels

Construction Contract for joint use of the Hoboken site and for removal of Palisades TBM and TBM shield from the Hoboken shaft.

s) Furnish, install and maintain geotechnical instrumentation for displacement monitoring.

t) Obtain all related permits and approvals for the design and construction of the Work.

u) Provide as-built documentation for constructed facilities. Dates for Submittal of Pre-qualifications

Special Pre-Qualification Submittals must be addressed as follows and delivered by 2:00 p.m. on July 2rd, 2009, to:

NJ TRANSIT Bid Desk

Re: Special Pre-Qualification Submittal for Sealed Bid No. 09-038X Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel Project

Two Gateway Center, 17th Floor Newark, NJ 07102 Attn: Ron Martin