A screen grab from Metro’s solicitations web page. Click above to see the real thing!

Another milestone today for the Purple Line Extension as Metro has officially invited construction firms to submit proposals to build the 3.9-mile first segment of the Purple Line Extension subway between Wilshire/Western and Wilshire/La Cienega. The proposals are due on Dec. 19 from the four firms that Metro deemed qualified in the earlier Request for Qualifications process. They are:

•Impregilo S.p.A., Samsung E & C America, Inc., and Salini USA, Inc. (Westside Transit Partners)

•Shimmick Construction Company, Inc.; Obayashi Corporation; and FCC Construccion, S.A. (Shimmick / Obayashi / FCC, a Joint Venture)

•Skanska USA Civil West California District Inc., Traylor Bros., Inc., and J.F. Shea Construction, Inc. (Skanska, Traylor and Shea, a joint Venture)

•Dragados USA, Inc. (DUSA), Southland Contracting, Inc., and Astaldi Construction Corporation (Dragados / Southland / Astaldi (DSA) a Joint Venture)

It’s a massive project, obviously — involving tunneling under busy Wilshire Boulevard and the building of three underground stations. Metro is seeking to award the contract in spring 2014.

Utility relocations for the project are already underway as is the construction of an exploratory shaft on the south side of Wilshire across the street from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.