Procurement of High-Speed Rail Materials

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) has released an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for Ballast (HSR 25-28). The Authority has already released IFBs for OCS Poles (HSR 25-25), Long Welded Rail (25-26), and Concrete Ties (HSR 25-27), and anticipates releasing two additional IFBs to procure contracts for commoditized materials.

The purpose of these procurements is for the Authority to purchase materials commodities including steel OCS poles, rail, concrete ties, EN (European Standard) ballast, OCS components, and fiber optic cable, necessary to complete the First Construction Section of its high-speed rail track.

Each materials contract will be issued through multiple Notices to Proceed (NTPs) as described below. The estimated cumulative contract value for all materials contracts combined (rail, concrete ties, steel OCS poles, OCS components, fiber optic cable, and ballast) is not-to-exceed $507.1 million for NTP 1.

• NTP 1: The initial authorization to be issued for the manufacture and supply of Materials for use in construction on the 119-mile First Construction Section.
• NTP 2: To be issued at the Authority’s option for the manufacture and supply of Materials for use in construction on the northern extension (Merced to Madera).
• NTP 3: To be issued at the Authority’s option for the manufacture and supply of Materials for use in construction on the southern extension (Poplar Avenue in the County of Kern to Bakersfield).
• NTP 4: To be issued at the Authority’s option for the manufacture and supply of Materials for use in construction on the High-Desert Corridor.

General requirements for each material are provided in the IFB and draft agreement. The Contractor shall not perform any Work unless Authority, in its sole discretion, issues a Notice to Proceed (NTP) and Purchase Order for such work. The actual amount of Work requested by the Authority is subject to the availability of funding. In addition, all materials must be newly manufactured goods and conform to the technical specifications provided by the Authority. All materials supplied must be Buy America and Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) compliant, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 22905 and 2 C.F.R. part 184.

Anticipated Schedule and Draft Documents

1. Overhead Contact Systems ()CS) Poles
   • IFB Addendum 3 Released: November 20, 2025 – The IFB has been released on the California State Contract Register (CSCR)
   • Bids Due/Opening Date: Friday, January 16, 2026
   • Notice of Proposed Award: Quarter 1, 2026
   • Anticipated Contract Execution and Notice to Proceed: Quarter 1, 2026

2. Rail
   • IFB Addendum 2 Released: November 21, 2025 – The IFB has been released on the California State Contract Register (CSCR)
   • Bids Due/Opening Date: December 18, 2025
   • Notice of Proposed Award: Quarter 1, 2026
   • Anticipated Contract Execution and Notice to Proceed: Quarter 1, 2026

3. Concrete Ties
   • IFB Released: October 30, 2025 – The IFB has been released on the California State Contract Register (CSCR)
   • Bids Due/Opening Date: January 22, 2026
   • Notice of Proposed Award: Quarter 1, 2026
   • Anticipated Contract Execution and Notice to Proceed: Quarter 1, 2026

4. Ballast
   • IFB Released: November 19, 2025 – The IFB has been released on the California State Contract Register (CSCR).
   • Bids Due/Opening Date: February 19, 2026
   • Notice of Proposed Award: Quarter 1, 2026
   • Anticipated Contract Execution and Notice to Proceed: Quarter 1, 2026

5. OCS Components
   • IFB Release: TBD
   • Bids Due/Opening Date: TBD
   • Notice of Proposed Award: TBD
   • Anticipated Contract Execution and Notice to Proceed: TBD

6. Fiber Optic Cable
   • IFB Release: TBD
   • Bids Due/Opening Date: TBD
   • Notice of Proposed Award: TBD
   • Anticipated Contract Execution and Notice to Proceed: TBD

Updates, including responses to written questions and any addenda will be provided on the CSCR.

Small Businesses are encouraged to visit the Authority’s Small Business Program webpage for information including a program overview, certifications we recognize, how to get certified, access to our vendor registry, and more.

Conflict of Interest

If you have questions about any potential organizational conflict of interest, please submit questions and/or a request for an Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCOI) determination to the Authority’s Chief Counsel at Legal@hsr.ca.gov, referencing the specific IFB. For the determination request, also provide a response to the information requested in the Organizational Conflict of Interest Checklist, items 1-8, in IFB Section 4.6.

Questions

Questions regarding these procurements should be submitted to materialpurchase@hsr.ca.gov or (916) 324-1541. Questions should identify which material procurement they are regarding.