Public Private Partnerships (P3)
Public-Private Partnerships (P3) are partnerships formed between public entities like TDOT and private companies, allowing Tennessee to better allocate the limited resources for transportation projects by leveraging private-sector innovation and capital. In addition to assigning responsibilities of designing and constructing projects, P3s allow the TDOT to bring a private partner to support the finance, operation and/or maintenance of projects, such as the Choice lanes. P3s allow for shared risks, accelerated project delivery, access to additional capital, long-term view of asset management, and may result in the reduction of public costs, with debts privately financed without any obligations to the state. As a result, Tennessee can offer enhanced and expanded mobility options faster and with improved driver experience and quality, all while freeing up state funds to continue providing transportation improvements in rural communities, such as replacing or improving existing bridges or roadways or widening the interstate system to three lanes.
P3s became a viable option in Tennessee thanks to the passage of the Transportation Modernization Act TMA in 2023, which fundamentally changed the way TDOT delivers projects by expanding alternative delivery opportunities and giving TDOT the authority to enter into P3s. This contracting mechanism allows the department to create the Choice Lanes program - a large-scale effort to solving the state's urban congestion problem without raising taxes, issuing road debt, spending a disproportionate amount of funds in urban areas, reducing our maintenance budget or proposing toll roads.
P3 Projects:
Innovative Finance
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) anticipates releasing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on February 25, 2026, to begin the department's procurement of a Statewide Commercial Back Office (CBO) System to support the Choice Lanes Program. After the release of the RFQ documents, TDOT anticipates conducting the following mandatory, in-person events at TDOT’s headquarters in Nashville, TN:
- Industry Forum - March 10, 2026
- Confidential One-on-One Meetings – March 10 – March 13, 2026
Potential Respondents wanting to attend the Industry Forum and request a Confidential One-on-One Meeting with TDOT will be required to pre-register with TDOT in accordance with the instructions in the RFQ.
Note: Only Respondents who attend the Industry Forum and participate in the Confidential One-on-One Meetings shall be eligible to submit an SOQ in response to the RFQ.
Additional information, including project scope, anticipated schedule of events and procurement process, will be provided upon release of the RFQ document.
Interested parties are encouraged to monitor IBTTA’s “Business Opportunities” webpage along with this webpage for RFQ posting and additional information. Dates mentioned above are subject to change at TDOT’s sole discretion.
Please do not contact IBTTA or TDOT regarding this pre-release notification. Contact information for TDOT regarding this solicitation will be provided upon release of the RFQ.
P3 Resources:
Choice Lanes Video Playlist