The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on November 8th released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), seeking qualifications by private industry partners to design, build, finance, maintain and operate the Illinois portion of the Illiana Expressway.

Interested firms or project teams can submit a Statement of Qualifications that will be used to determine eligibility in the upcoming Public Private Partnership (P3) process on the Illinois portion of the Illiana.

In mid October, the Policy Committee of the Chicago Metro Agency for Planning (CMAP) gave final green light to the construction of the proposed Illiana Expressway.

Illinois RFQ: http://www.dot.il.gov/procurement/Illinanaindex.html (SOQ Due Date: December 19, 2013 )

The Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) have also issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Indiana portion of the Illiana Corridor project.

The state is seeking submission of qualifications by private industry partners to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Indiana portion of the Illiana Corridor.

Indiana RFQ: http://www.in.gov/ifa/2763.htm (SOQ Due Date: January 10, 2014 )

Both portions will use an Availability Payment structure. Financing options may include private equity, taxable debt, federal credit assistance such as TIFIA, and private activity bonds.

To ensure coordination of the bi-state Illiana Corridor Project, IFA/INDOT and the Illinois Department of Transportation are working together to coordinate technical requirements, tolling policy, the federal environmental approval process, and construction schedules.

The Illiana would be a 47-mile toll road running through southern Will County, linking Interstate 55 near Wilmington with I-57 near Peotone and I-65 near Lowell, Ind.