Project Feasibility Study
Scope Tip
A feasibility study should help determine whether and how a project should move forward—not prematurely advance a single solution. Clearly define the questions the study needs to answer and the decisions it is intended to inform.
Scope Item Definition
Establish the purpose and need for a proposed trail project and evaluate its feasibility based on existing plans and management direction, available data, site conditions, resources, opportunities and constraints, costs, permitting requirements, and implementation considerations.
When / Where It Applies
Typically early in a project when:
The project need or desired outcome is known, but the appropriate solution has not yet been determined.
Multiple potential trail concepts, locations, or approaches are being considered.
The owner needs information before committing funding to more detailed planning, design, or construction.
Existing management direction, site conditions, environmental or cultural resources, land ownership, access, cost, permitting, or other constraints may affect project feasibility.
The owner needs to determine whether and how a proposed project should move forward.
Scope Considerations
Depending on the project, the scope should consider and clearly define:
Purpose and need: Define or refine the project purpose, need, goals, and desired outcomes.
Background and existing conditions review: Review relevant existing plans, studies, trail-use information, GIS/spatial data, natural and cultural resource information, and known site conditions.
Land management plan alignment: Identify applicable land management plans, policies, previous decisions, and other guiding documents and evaluate how they affect the proposed project.
Site opportunities and constraints: Identify known or potential factors such as topography, slope, soils, geology, hydrology, natural and cultural resources, ownership, access, existing infrastructure, adjacent land uses, and management considerations.
Field investigation: Conduct preliminary site reconnaissance or ground-truthing, when needed, to evaluate existing information and site conditions.
Project feasibility: Evaluate whether the project purpose and need can reasonably be met given identified opportunities, constraints, available resources, management requirements, and site conditions.
Permitting and compliance considerations: Identify known or likely permitting, environmental review, resource survey, consultation, or approval requirements that could affect project feasibility, schedule, or cost.
Preliminary cost and implementation considerations: Evaluate anticipated costs, funding, staffing/labor, project phasing, and other implementation considerations at a level appropriate to the stage of planning.
Recommendations and next steps: Identify additional information, studies, engagement, planning, design, or approvals needed to advance the project.
Owner-Provided Information
The owner should provide the following, if available and applicable:
Project background, goals, and known needs.
Property, jurisdictional, and management boundaries.
Applicable land and resource management plans and agency policies.
Existing planning and design documents and previous studies.
Available GIS/spatial data.
Existing natural and cultural resource information.
Trail-use and user data.
Known site, access, ownership, or resource constraints.
Existing permits, environmental review, or agency decisions.
Known funding, budget, schedule, or implementation constraints.
Relevant agency and partner contacts.
Deliverables
Depending on the project, deliverables may include:
Purpose and need statement.
Existing conditions and background summary.
Opportunities and constraints analysis and/or map.
Summary of applicable management plan and policy considerations.
Preliminary project concept or potential corridors, if included in the scope.
Preliminary feasibility-level cost estimate or cost range.
Permitting and compliance considerations.
Identification of data gaps or additional studies needed.
Feasibility findings and recommended next steps.
Pricing & Payment Considerations
The solicitation should clearly define the anticipated level of effort and pricing considerations, including:
Geographic area to be evaluated.
Number of alternatives or concepts to be evaluated, if applicable.
Information and data provided by the owner versus information the contractor is expected to obtain.
Expected GIS/spatial analysis.
Number of site visits or anticipated field days.
Mobilization and travel requirements, including whether travel time and expenses should be included in the proposed price or reimbursed separately.
Meeting and coordination requirements.
Level of cost estimating required.
Whether specialized resource or technical studies are included or will be provided separately.
Pricing may be structured as a lump sum or time and materials with a not-to-exceed amount, depending on how clearly the required level of effort can be defined.
Common Scope & Contracting Issues
Not clearly defining the questions the feasibility work is expected to answer.
Not distinguishing between information the owner will provide and information the contractor is expected to collect or obtain.
Leaving the geographic study area, number of alternatives, or expected level of field investigation undefined.
Expecting detailed field design or construction-ready recommendations from a feasibility-level scope.
Requiring a definitive construction cost before sufficient planning or design has occurred.
Not identifying known management plans, previous decisions, resource constraints, or permitting requirements.
Assuming environmental, cultural, engineering, or other specialized technical studies are included without specifically identifying them.