CSPDC Issues Intent to Award Contract for On-Call Consultant Program
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD CONTRACT
| DATE ISSUED: | September 11, 2026 |
| RFP No. | 2026-001 |
| PROJECT NAME: | On-Call Consultant Program: Planning, Engineering, and Architectural Services |
| INTENT TO AWARD TO: | Nine firms, listed below by service category |
| SOLICITATION TYPE: | Competitive/Request for Proposals |
This is a notice of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission’s (CSPDC’s) intent to award contracts under the On-Call Consultant Program (RFP #2026-001). Fifty-two (52) proposals were received for this solicitation. This notice indicates the intent to award and should not be considered an official award of the contract.
The CSPDC intends to enter into contract negotiations with the following firms, in the service categories indicated:
| FIRM | SERVICE CATEGORIES |
| Michael Baker International | Transportation Planning; Transportation Engineering; GIS; General Planning |
| A. Morton Thomas (AMT) | Transportation Planning; Transportation Engineering; Paving; Stormwater; GIS; Grant Writing; Environmental & Sustainability |
| Whitman, Requardt & Associates (WRA) | Transportation Planning; Transportation Engineering; Architectural; Water & Sewer; Grant Writing; Environmental & Sustainability; Surveying; Structural; General Planning |
| Timmons Group | Transportation Planning; Transportation Engineering; Paving; Landscape Architecture; Water & Sewer; Grant Writing; Environmental & Sustainability; Surveying; Structural; General Planning |
| Kittelson & Associates | Transportation Planning; Transportation Engineering; Grant Writing (transportation-specific only) |
| VHB | Transportation Planning; Transportation Engineering; Stormwater; Grant Writing |
| Wetland Studies & Solutions (WSSI) | Stormwater & Stream Restoration |
| Community Resilience Consulting (CRC) | Stormwater; GIS; Architectural; Water & Sewer; Environmental & Sustainability; General Planning |
| Thompson & Litton | Architectural; Water & Sewer; Surveying; Structural; General Planning |
Contracts are jointly procured under Virginia Code § 2.2-4304(B) on behalf of the CSPDC, its member jurisdictions, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham and Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and other participating public bodies. Award of any contract is contingent on successful negotiation of terms satisfactory and advantageous to the CSPDC at a price it considers fair and reasonable and, for firms performing transportation services, on completion of a VDOT pre-award evaluation.
In accordance with CSPDC Procurement Policy, time must be allotted for participating firms to comment on or protest the award decision. Protest procedures allow that written protests must be submitted no later than ten (10) days after the announcement of the decision to award. Any offeror who wishes to protest this Notice of Intent must file the protest within ten (10) days from the posting of this notice in accordance with the CSPDC’s protest procedures.
Written protests shall be submitted to:
Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission
Attn: Ann Cundy
112 MacTanly Place
Staunton, VA 24401
The CSPDC ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you have questions or concerns about your civil rights in regards to this program, or require special assistance for persons with disabilities or language access, please contact the Title VI Coordinator at (540) 885-5174. Sign language or non-English language interpreters and accessible formats for the visually impaired will be provided if needed and requested from the CSPDC no later than seven working days prior to any meetings or deadlines to submit public comment.
A .pdf of this notice is available by clicking HERE.
In Memoriam: Frank Friedman
With deep sadness, we share the news that Frank Friedman, our Commission Chair and Mayor of the City of Lexington, passed away on July 2nd.
Frank served as CSPDC’s Commission Chair for almost ten consecutive years. He championed a succession plan that ensured a smooth transition between Executive Directors in 2024, and he represented our region on the GO Virginia Region 8 Council and the Improve I-81 Advisory Committee. He ran lively Commission meetings, brought thoughtfulness to every discussion, and was deeply committed to his life as a public servant. We will miss him and his steadfast support of the PDC.
Frank’s family has established the Frank Wilson Friedman Memorial Fund, administered by the Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath, and Alleghany, as a lasting tribute to his life. For more information visit cfra.fcsuite.com.
CSPDC Receives Virginia Housing Grant for Regional Data Dashboard
The CSPDC has received a $50,000 Capacity Building Implementation Grant from Virginia Housing to develop an interactive regional data dashboard. The grant program supports organizations in enhancing their operations, processes, and resources to better serve their communities.
Developed in partnership with the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, the dashboard will build on findings from the Central Shenandoah Regional Housing Study to provide local governments, housing organizations, developers, and other regional partners with timely, accessible demographic, economic, and housing data. Key housing indicators will include housing age and type, occupancy, home values, tenure, and cost burden among renters and homeowners.
Through interactive visualizations, users will be able to compare data across localities and explore connections among income, age, housing tenure, affordability, and other factors.
By putting current, locally relevant information within easy reach, the dashboard will help regional partners better understand housing needs, prioritize investments, and build stronger applications for state and federal funding.
Data collection and analysis are expected to continue through fall 2026, with the dashboard scheduled for completion by early 2027. We look forward to sharing updates as the dashboard takes shape.
Kayla Dixon Joins CSPDC as Outreach and Engagement Planner
Kayla Dixon officially joined the CSPDC as our Outreach and Engagement Planner on July 1. Kayla began working at the CSPDC in the summer of 2025 as a summer intern and then continued her work with us through the 2025-26 academic year as a graduate assistant. During her time in those roles, she developed and implemented a “Value of Transit” campaign in support of the BRITE Transit system.
In May, Kayla graduated from James Madison University with her master’s in public administration. During her time at JMU, she worked as a Research Assistant in the American Political Reform & Innovation Lab, held an internship with the City of Harrisonburg, and traveled to the Netherlands to explore urban planning and sustainability. Originally from Northern Virginia, Kayla is excited to stay in the Valley and continue her work supporting engagement initiatives throughout the CSPDC region. Outside of work she enjoys crocheting, reading, and getting active by weightlifting and hiking with her dog Callie.
VDOT Completes Public Engagement for Shenandoah Valley Rail-with-Trail Assessment
With publication of the Phase 3 Public Engagement Summary, VDOT has concluded the Shenandoah Valley Rail-with-Trail Assessment — a study that began in March 2024 to evaluate options for the 49-mile rail corridor running through Warren, Shenandoah, and Rockingham counties.
Phase 3 public engagement took place in the Spring of 2026 with in-person meetings in the towns of Woodstock, Front Royal, and Timberville, and an online survey that was open from April 8 through May 13, 2026.
VDOT received 8,150 survey responses. Among the 2,552 respondents from Warren, Shenandoah, and Rockingham Counties, 69.9% named converting the corridor to a trail as the best investment for the Commonwealth, compared with 6.7% who favored keeping rail service alongside a parallel trail. 18.4% of these respondents along the corridor said they had no preference, and 5.0% said they liked neither option.
Support for rail-to-trail was similarly strong statewide, at 57.8% of the 6,160 respondents identifiable by Virginia zip code.
In February 2026, the Secretary of Transportation’s office indicated to the Commonwealth Transportation Board that it would begin negotiations with Norfolk Southern to acquire the corridor. The final configuration — rail-to-trail or rail-with-trail — will be decided later, informed in part by this engagement data.
Full engagement summary and project materials are available on VDOT’s project page.