S T A T E   O F   M A R Y L A N D           
                       DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION           
                       STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION           
                    OFFICE OF MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY           
           
                          REQUEST FOR INFORMATION           
                                                
               CONTRACTOR/CONSULTANT CAPABILITIES TO PROVIDE           
                HIGHWAY RELATED MATERIAL LABORATORY TESTING           
                                    AND           
                   FIELD EVALUATION AND TESTING SERVICES           
                                                
     The Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway           
Administration (SHA)'s Office of Materials and Technology (OMT) is           
soliciting Request for Information (RFI) on the capabilities of private           
sector entities to provide construction material testing and field testing           
and exploration.  The RFI will be utilized by the OMT in determining the           
potential for out-sourcing certain services that have traditionally been           
provided by the Office of Materials and Technology.           
           
     The reason for this request is based on the reduction in the size of           
the work force in Maryland State Government and specifically within OMT.           
We are in the process restructuring our organization with the intent of           
soliciting material testing and construction material quality oversight           
contractual agreements within the next year.  We anticipate these           
agreements to be for multiple years and structured to provide these           
services both regionally focused and statewide.  The potential for           
purchasing or leasing current State owned facilities, lab and/or field           
equipment may be included in these agreements.           
           
     All firms interested in responding to this RFI should contact the           
project engineer, Mr. Mark F. Wolcott, Office of Materials and Technology,           
2323 W. Joppa Road, Brooklandville, MD 21022, or at (410) 321-3106. All           
respondents will be notified in writing of any additions and/or changes.           
           
     If you have any questions pertaining to the RFI Package, please           
contact the project engineer stated above.           
           
     The RFI is due by 12:00 P.M. July 9, 2003, in the SHA, Office of           
Consultant Services, Fourth Floor, C-405, 707 North Calvert Street,           
Baltimore, Maryland 21202.  RFI's received after the deadline time will not           
be accepted, no matter how transmitted, and will be returned unopened to           
the designer/contractor.           
           
     It is the goal of MDOT that Disadvantaged and/or Minority Business           
Enterprises participate in all Federal Aid and State contracts, as           
applicable.   Minority Business Enterprises are encouraged to respond to           
this Request for Information