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San Juan County commission approves contract award to HDR for 4 Corners freight rail preliminary engineering and NEPA study
Summary
The commission approved awarding proposal 252602 to HDR Engineering Inc. for preliminary engineering and a NEPA study for the 4 Corners freight rail project, funded by a $4 million federal grant and a $1 million New Mexico match. The county noted participation by Navajo Nation representatives on the evaluation committee.
San Juan County commissioners voted to award proposal 25-26-02 to HDR Engineering Inc. of Albuquerque to complete preliminary engineering and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study for the 4 Corners freight rail project.
A county procurement representative told the commission that central purchasing issued a request for proposals in August 2025, received one responsive proposal on Sept. 4, 2025, and that an evaluation committee composed of county staff and representatives from the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development recommended HDR as the highest-rated proposer.
"We recommend that an award be made to HDR Engineering Incorporated of Albuquerque, New Mexico as the highest rated operator for these services, and the award will be subject to successful contract negotiation," the presenter said. Committee members named in the record included Mike Stark, Porter Smith, Nick Corral, Daisha William and Henry Silifman from the Navajo Nation.
Commission discussion noted that HDR previously prepared the feasibility study for the project and that HDR’s team includes former Federal Railroad Administration and railroad-industry personnel. Geotechnical testing (identified in the proposal as GeoRAP or a similar firm) will be part of the next phase.
County staff said the work is funded by a federal grant of approximately $4,000,000, with a New Mexico match of about $1,000,000; staff stressed there are no local dollars associated with this contract award. The county said the project schedule requires completion of the next phase (including 30% engineering plans and the NEPA document) by June 2027 in order to position future federal funding requests.
Commissioners and staff emphasized partnership with the Navajo Nation on the project. The commission approved the award by voice vote with no recorded roll-call breakdown in the transcript.
Ending: The contract award is subject to successful negotiation; staff said they planned to begin negotiations immediately and to coordinate with the Navajo Nation and federal partners as the work begins.
