10-RFQ 26-002 Arch Engineering Services.doc

COUNTY OF BERGEN

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

DIVISION OF PURCHASING

One Bergen County Plaza – 3RD Floor – Hackensack, NJ 07601-7076

(201) 336-7100 FAX (201) 336-7105

James J. Tedesco III

Peter J. Gerrity County Executive

Purchasing Agent County of Bergen

Fair and Open Process

Request for Qualifications

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

FOR THE SERVICES OF

RFQ-26-002 Architectural, Engineering, Related and MISC Professional Services for the County of Bergen FY 2026.

ISSUE DATE: November 5, 2025 DUE DATE: December 4, 2025 @ 12:00 noon ALL PROPOSALS WILL BE ACCEPTED ELECTRONICALLY, PLEASE FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS IN THE BONFIRE SYSTEM NOTE: The County of Bergen will consider Qualification Statements only from firms or organizations that have demonstrated the capability and willingness to provide high quality services in the manner described in this Request for Qualifications.

GLOSSARY

The following definitions shall apply to and are used in this Request for Qualifications:

“County”- refers to the County of Bergen.

“Qualification Statement” – refers to the complete responses to this RFQ submitted by the Respondents.

“Qualified Respondent” – refers to those Respondent(s) who (in the sole judgement of the County) have satisfied the qualification criteria set forth in this RFQ.

“RFQ” – refers to this Request for Qualifications, including any amendments thereof or supplements thereto.

“Respondent” or “Respondents” – refers to the interested firm(s) that submit a Qualification Statement(s).

1.1. Procurement Process and Schedule.

The County of Bergen has structured a procurement process that seeks to obtain the desired results described above, while establishing a competitive process to assure that each firm is provided an equal opportunity to submit a Qualification Statement. Responses to the RFQ will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria set forth in later section(s) of this RFQ, which will be applied in the same manner to each Qualification Statement received. The selection of Qualified Respondents is not subject to the provisions of the Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq). The selection is, however, subject to the New Jersey Local Unit Pay-to-Play Law (N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.4 et seq).

Qualification Statements will be reviewed and evaluated by the County of Bergen with assistance from its financial and legal advisors under no circumstances will a party reviewing or evaluating a qualification statement do so if their involvement would present conflict of interest as that term defined New Jersey’s Local Government Ethics law N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.1 et seq. The Qualification Statements will be reviewed to determine if the Respondent has met the minimum professional, administrative and financial criteria described in this RFQ. Based upon the totality of the information contained in the Qualification Statement, including information about the reputation and experience of each Respondent, the County of Bergen will (in its sole judgement) determine which Respondents are qualified (to perform the contemplated services). Each Respondent that meets the requirement of the RFQ (in the sole judgement of the County) will be designated as a Qualified Respondent and may be given the opportunity to submit a detailed Proposal in response to subsequent RFQ’s issued by the County of Bergen.

The RFQ process commences with the issuances of this RFQ. The steps involved in the process and the anticipated completion dates are set forth in Table 1, Procurement Schedule. The County of Bergen reserves the right to, among other things, amend, modify, alter or cancel the Procurement Schedule upon notice to all potential Respondents.

All communications concerning this RFQ or the RFQ process shall be directed, in writing, to the County’s Designated Contact Person as set forth herein.

Subsequent to issuance of this RFQ, the County of Bergen may modify, supplement, amend or cancel the provisions of this RFQ in order to respond to inquiries received from prospective Respondents or as otherwise deemed necessary or appropriate by, and in the sole judgment of, the County.

TABLE 1

ANTICIPATED PROCUREMENT SCHEDULE

ACTIVITY

DATE

1.

Issuance of Request for Qualifications and or Quotes November 5, 2025 2.

Receipt of Qualification Statements/Quotes

December 4, 2025

1.2. Conditions Applicable to RFQ.

Upon submission of a Qualification Statement in response to this RFQ, the Respondent acknowledges and consents to the following conditions relative to the submission and review and consideration of its Qualification Statement:

· This document is an RFQ and does not constitute a Competitive Contracting Request for Proposals (“RFP”).

· This RFQ does not commit the County of Bergen to issue an further procurement as related to this RFQ or to award a contract for the services contemplated by this RFQ.

· The County of Bergen reserves the right (in its sole judgement) to reject for any reason any and all responses and components thereof and to eliminate any and all Respondents responding to this RFQ from further consideration for the services contemplated by this RFQ.

· The County of Bergen reserves the right (in its sole judgement) to seek additional information, waive requirements or reject any Respondent that submits incomplete responses to this RFQ.

· The County of Bergen reserves the right (in its sole judgement) to determine those Respondents that are qualified to perform the services contemplated by this RFQ.

· The County of Bergen reserves the right, without prior notice, to supplement, amend, otherwise modify this RFQ, or otherwise request additional information.

· All Qualification Statements shall become the property of the County of Bergen and will not be returned.

· All Qualification Statements will be made available to the public at the appropriate time, as determined by the County of Bergen (in the exercise of its sole discretion and in accordance with law

· Responses to this RFQ are the property of the county of Bergen and will be “public records”. Responses that are labeled “confidential”, or that contain information identified as “confidential”, will not be acceptable for consideration by the County of Bergen.

· The County of Bergen may request Respondents to send representatives to the County of Bergen for interviews.

· Any and all Qualification Statements not received on or before the time set herein for receipt may be rejected.

· Neither the County of Bergen, nor their respective staffs, consultants or advisors shall be liable for any claims or damages resulting from the solicitation or preparation of the Qualifications Statement, nor will there be any reimbursement to Respondents for the cost of preparing and submitting a Qualifications Statement or for participating in this procurement process.

1.3. Rights of the County of Bergen

The County of Bergen reserves, holds and may exercise, at its sole discretion, the following rights and options with regard to this RFQ and the procurement process in accordance with the provisions of applicable law:

· To determine that any Qualification Statement received complies or fails to comply with the terms of this RFQ.

· To supplement, amend or otherwise modify the RFQ through issuance of addenda to all prospective Respondents who have received a copy of this RFQ.

· To waive any technical non-conformance with the terms of this RFQ.

· To change or alter the schedule for any events called for in this RFQ upon the issuance of notice to all prospective Respondents who have received a copy of this RFQ.

· To conduct investigations of any or all of the Respondents, as the County of Bergen deems necessary or convenient, to clarify the information provided as part of the Qualifications Statement and to request additional information to support the information included in any Qualification Statement.

· To suspend or terminate the procurement process described in the RFQ at any time (in its sole discretion.) If terminated, the County of Bergen may determine to commence a new procurement process or exercise any other rights provided under applicable law without any obligation to the Respondents.

· Pursuant to P.L. 2012c c.25 State and local public contracts are not permitted with persons or entitles engaging in certain investment activities in energy or finance sectors of Iran.

The County of Bergen shall be under no obligation to complete all or any portion of the procurement process described in this RFQ.

1.4. Addenda or Amendments to RFQ.

During the period proved for the preparation of Qualification Statement, the County of Bergen may issue addenda, amendments or answers to written inquiries. Those addenda will be noticed by the County of Bergen and will constitute a part of the RFQ. All responses to the RFQ shall be prepared with full consideration of the addenda issued prior to the designated submission date.

1.5. Cost of Preparation.

Each Qualification Statement and all information required to be submitted; pursuant to the RFQ shall be prepared at the sole cost and expense of the respondent. There shall be no claims whatsoever against the County of Bergen, its staff or consultants for reimbursement for the payment of costs or expenses incurred in the preparation of the Qualification Statement or other information required by the RFQ.

1.6. Format.

Responses should cover all information requested in this RFQ. Responses which in the judgement of the County of Bergen fail to meet the requirement of the RFQ or which are in any way conditional, incomplete, obscure, contain additions or deletions from requested information, or contain errors may be rejected.

Section 2

Costs

2.1 Costs should be outlined for all usual and customary fees’ including hourly rates, inclusive fees and so on. The County of Bergen does not pay for travel time and expenses, invoices showing these items will not be paid.

SECTION 3

SUBMISSION REQUIRMENTS

3.1. General Requirements.

The Qualification Statement submitted by the Respondent must meet or exceed the professional, administrative, and financial qualifications set forth in Section 2 and shall also incorporate the information requested below.

In addition to the information required as described below, a Respondent may submit supplemental information that it feels may be useful in evaluating its Qualification Statement. Respondents are encouraged to be clear, factual, and concise in their presentation of information.

3.2 Administrative Information Requirements.

The Respondent shall, as part of its Qualification Statement, provide the following information:

1. An executive summary (not to exceed two (2) pages) of the information contained in all the other parts of the Qualification Statement.

2. An executed Letter of Intent (see Appendix A to this RFQ).

3. Name, address and telephone number of the firm submitting the Qualification Statement pursuant to this RFQ and the name of the key contact person.

4. A description of the business organization (i.e., corporation, partnership, joint venture, etc.) of each firm, its ownership and its organizational structure.

a) Provide the names and business addresses of all Principals of the firm or firms submitting the Qualification Statement. For purposes of this RFQ, “Principals” means persons possessing an ownership interest in the Respondent. If the Respondent is a corporation, “Principals” shall include each investor who would have any amount of operational control over the Respondent and every stockholder having an ownership interest of 10% or more in the firm.

b) If a firm is a partially owned or a full-owned subsidiary of another firm, identify the parent company and describe the nature and extent of the parents’ approval rights over the activities of the firm submitting a Qualification Statement. Describe the approval process.

c) If the Respondent is a partnership or a joint venture or similar organization, provide comparable information as required in b) above for each member of the partnership, joint venture or similar organization.

d) A statement that the Respondent has complied with all applicable affirmative action (or similar) requirements with respect to its business activities, together with evidence of such compliance. Respondents are required (pursuant to Section 4 of this RFQ) to provide an Employee

e) Information Report demonstrating compliance with the affirmative action requirements set forth at P.L. 1975, c. 127.

5. The number of years your organization has been operating and in business under the present name.

6. The number of years the business organization has been under the current management personnel.

7. Any judgments within the last three years in which Respondent has been adjudicated liable for professional malpractice. If yes, please explain.

8. Whether the business organization is now or has been involved in any bankruptcy or re-organization proceedings in the last ten (10) years. If yes, please explain.

9. Confirm appropriate federal and state licenses to perform activities.

10. Respondents must also submit a New Jersey Business Registration Certificate (pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54A:7-1.2), a Stockholder Disclosure

Certificate, Employee Information Report (demonstrating compliance with the affirmative action requirements set forth at P.L. 1975, c. 127) and any other requirements set forth herein.

. 12. REQUIRED AFFIRMATIVE ACTIQN EVIDENCE: The Provisions of Chapter 127, Public Laws of 1975, (N.J.A.C. 17-27) are applicable to this contract. All successful vendors must submit within seven (7) days of the notice of intent to award or the signing of the contract, one of the following:

1. A photocopy of their Federal Letter of Affirmative Action Plan Approval

2. A photocopy of their Certificate of Employee Information Report or

3. A completed Affirmative Action Employee Information Report (AA302).

Section 3.3 Professional Information Requirements.

1. Respondent shall submit a description of its overall experience in providing the type of services sought in the RFQ. At a minimum, the following information on past experience should be included as appropriate to the RFQ:

a) Description and scope of work by Respondent

b) Name, address and contact information of at least three references

c) Explanation of perceived relevance of the experience to the RFQ.

2. Describe the services that Respondent would perform directly.

3. Describe those portions of the Respondent’s services, if any, that are sub-contracted out. Identify all subcontractors the Respondent anticipates using in connection with this project.

4. Does the Respondent normally employ union or non-union employees?

5. Resumes of key employees (see specific requirements in Section 2 above).

6. A narrative statement of the Respondent’s understanding of the County’s needs and goals.

7. List all immediate relatives of Principal(s) of Respondent who are County employees or elected officials of the County. For purposes of the above, “immediate relative” means a spouse, parent, stepparent, brother, sister, child, stepchild, direct-line aunt or uncle, grandparent, grandchild, and in-laws by reason of relation.

8. List at least three clients and three large projects recently completed in the past 5 years.

Section 3.4 Insurance

A. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

I. Workers Compensation and Employer’s Liability Insurance

1. Worker’s Compensations Insurance in the statutory limits including Employer’s Liability in an amount no less than $500,000.00

II. General Liability Insurance

1. General liability insurance in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00 combined single limit including broad form comprehensive general liability endorsement, and shall include provisions for thirty (30) days written notice of cancellation and/or modification of coverage. The County of Bergen shall be included as an additional insured.

III. Automobile Liability Insurance

1. Comprehensive General Automobile Liability insurance in an amount no less than $1,000,000.00 in an amount no less than $1,000,000.00 combined single limit covering owned, hired, and non-owned autos, and shall include provisions for thirty (30) days written notice to the County of cancellation and/or modifications of such policies, except for non-payment which would be ten (10) days, and the contractor/vendor shall provide the Office of County Counsel with certificates of insurance evidencing such policies and provisions.

B. CERTIFICATES OF THE REQUIRED INSURANCE YES X NO

I. Certificates as listed above shall be submitted along with the contract as evidence covering Comprehensive General Liability, Comprehensive Automobile Liability, and where applicable, necessary Worker’s Compensation and Employer’s Liability Insurance. Such coverage shall be with acceptable insurance companies operating on an admitted basis in the State of New Jersey and shall name the OWNER as an additional insured.

II. Self-insured contractors shall submit an affidavit attesting to their self-insured coverage and shall name the OWNER as an additional insured.

C. Indemnification

I. Successful respondent shall indemnify and hold harmless the OWNER from all claims, suits or actions and damages or costs of every name and description to which the OWNER may be subjected or put by reason of injury to the person or property of another, or the property of the OWNER, resulting from negligent acts or omissions on the part of the bidder, the bidder’s agents, servants or subcontractors in the delivery of goods and services, or in the performance of the work under the contract.

II. Bergen County will not accept Mutual Limitation of Liability terms.

D. All policies maintained shall name the County of Bergen as an additional insured and shall provide for thirty (30) days written notice to the County of cancellation and/or modifications of such policies, except for non-payment which would be ten (10) days, and the contractor/vendor shall provide the Office of County Counsel with certificates of insurance evidencing such policies and provisions.

E. All insurance coverage must be in effect no later than 12:01 A.M. EST at the start of the day of the contract and remain in effect for the duration of the contract, including any extensions.

Section 3.5 Other Terms and Conditions

A. Non-Discrimination: There shall be no discrimination against any employee engaged in the work required to produce the commodities covered by any contract resulting from this bid, or against any applicant to such employment because of race, religion, sex, national origin, creed, color, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, familial status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the Unites States, or nationality. This provision shall include, but not be limited to the following: employment upgrading, demotion, transfer, recruitment or recruitment advertising, layoff or termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training, including apprenticeship. The contractor shall insert a similar provision in all subcontracts for services to be covered by any contract resulting from this bid.

B. STATEMENT OF CORPORATE OWNERSHIP

In accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2, no corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability corporation, limited liability partnership, Subchapter S corporation or sole proprietorship, shall be awarded a contract, unless prior to the receipt of the bid or accompanying the bid of the corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability corporation, limited liability partnership, subchapter S corporation or sole proprietorship, there is submitted to the County a statement setting forth the names and addresses of all stockholders who own 10% or more of the stock, of any class or of all individual partners who own a 10% or greater interest in the corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability corporation, limited liability partnership, Subchapter S corporation or sole proprietorship. If one or more such stockholder or partner is itself a corporation or partnership, the stockholders holding 10% or more of that corporation’s stock, or the individual partners owning 10% or greater interest in that partnership, as the case may be, shall also be listed. The disclosure shall be continued until names and addresses of every non-corporate stockholder and individual partner, exceeding the 10% ownership criteria established in this act has been listed. This form shall be signed and submitted with the bid/proposal whether or not a stockholder or partner owns less than 10% of the business submitting the bid. Failure to comply requires mandatory rejection of the bid/proposal

C. OWNERSHIP OF MATERIAL

a. The owner shall retain all of its rights and interest in any and all documents and property both hard copy and digital furnished by the owner to the contractor for the purpose of assisting the contractor in the performance of this contract. All such items shall be returned immediately to the owner at the expiration or termination of the contract or completion of any related services, pursuant thereto, whichever comes first. None of the documents and/or property shall, without the written consent of the owner, be disclosed to others or used by the contractor or permitted by the contractor to be used by their parties at any time except in the performance of the resulting contract.

b. Ownership of all data, materials and documentation originated and prepared for the owner pursuant to this contract shall belong exclusively to the owner. All data, reports, computerized information, programs and materials related to this project shall be delivered to and become the property of the owner upon completion of the project. The contractor shall not have the right to use, sell, or disclose the total of the interim or final work products, or make available to third parties, without the prior written consent of the owner. All information supplied to the owner may be required to be supplied on CD-ROM or other media compatible with the owner’s computer operating system, windows based, Microsoft Office Suite 2000.

D. HIPPA (If Applicable)

a. Both parties agree to comply with all requirements of the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPPA”) as maybe amended from time to time, and the corresponding HIPPA regulations for the confidentiality and security of medical information.

b. The Contractor shall:

i. Not use or disclose protected health information other than as permitted or required by law.

ii. Use appropriate safeguards to protect the confidentiality of the information.

iii. Report any use or disclosure not permitted.

c. The contractor, by execution of the contract, shall thereby indemnify and hold the County harmless from any and all liabilities, claims, actions, costs and penalties which may be incurred as the result of the failure of the contractor to comply with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) or any other statute or case law protecting the privacy of persons using its services.

SECTION 4

INSTRUCTIONS

Qualification Statements must be submitted ELECTRONICALLY by 12:00 noon prevailing time on set forth on page one.

With their Qualification Statement, respondents must submit a New Jersey Business Registration Certificate and a Stockholder Disclosure Certificate (pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-23.2), the federal EIN of the entity they are doing business under and any other requirements set forth herein.

To be responsive, Qualification Statements must provide all requested information, and must conform to the instructions set forth herein. Qualification Statements and all related information must be bound, signed and acknowledged by the Respondent.

REQUIRED AFFIRMATIVE ACTIQN EVIDENCE: The Provisions of Chapter 127, Public Laws of 1975, (N.J.A.C. 17-27) are applicable to this contract. All successful vendors must submit within seven (7) days of the notice of intent to award or the signing of the contract, one of the following:

1. A photocopy of their Federal Letter of Affirmative Action Plan Approval

2. A photocopy of their Certificate of Employee Information Report or

3. A completed Affirmative Action Employee Information Report (AA302).

SECTION 5

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The County of Bergen’s objective in soliciting Qualification Statements is to enable it to select a firm or organization (or multiple firms or organizations) that will provide high quality and cost effective services to the citizens of Bergen County. The County will consider Qualification Statements only from firms or organizations that, in the County’s sole judgement, have demonstrated the capability and willingness to provide the services contemplated by this RFQ.

Proposals will be evaluated by the County on the basis of the most advantageous submission, all relevant factors considered. The evaluation will consider:

1. Experience and reputation in the field

2. Knowledge of the County and the subject matter addressed under the contract

3. Availability to accommodate the required meetings of the County, and

4. Other factors to be demonstrated to be in the best interest of the County

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The attention of prospective bidders is drawn to the provisions of the Local Government Ethics Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22-1, et seq.) which prohibits a County Officer or employee or member of his/her immediate family from having an interest in a business organization or engaging in any business transaction, or professional activity which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his duties in the public interest.

In furtherance thereof, every bidder must disclose below, being a Bergen County officer or employee or whether an immediate family member is a Bergen County officer or employee. If the bidder is a business organization, then disclosure shall be made with respect to anyone having an interest in the business and their immediate family members.

Is the bidder, or a member of the bidder’s immediate family, or anyone having an interest in the bidder’s business organization including their immediate family members, an officer or employee of Bergen County?

If yes, provide the name of the individual and identify the position held, below, and notify in writing the Office of County Counsel, One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601. (Attach a copy of the correspondence to this form).

NOTE: All terms used herein are to be construed in accordance with their meaning under the Local Government Ethics Law, cited above.

* FAILURE TO SIGN THIS AFFIDAVIT BY A DULY AUTHORIZED COMPANY OFFICIAL MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF THIS PROPOSAL.

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