As reported by the Washington Post, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently released its bid solicitation for the Purple Line light rail project. According to the article,

Four teams of private companies will have until Jan. 9 to submit their proposals for a 35-year public-private partnership in which the companies would design, build, operate, maintain and help finance a Purple Line’s construction. The state expects the winning team to contribute $500 million to $900 million toward the project’s estimated $2.37 billion construction costs.

The four teams who are eligible to bid were selected earlier in the year through a separate qualification process.  MDOT anticipates awarding the contract by spring 2015, with the line opening in 2020. The line will connect Bethesda and New Carrollton.