2026_03_06 212435 RFQ for Engineering Service.docx

Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority 1224 Jack Dayton Circle Young Harris, Georgia 30582

MEMORANDUM

TO: Qualified Engineering Firms

FROM: Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority

SUBJECT: Engineering Qualifications for the Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority

DATE: March 6, 2026

Enclosed is a Request for Qualifications from qualified engineering firms interested in working with the Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority in its effort to undertake design and construction management of its water system improvements.

To be considered, proposals must be received by 2:00 p.m., April 10, 2026, at the Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority, Attn: Chairman Nathan Noblet, 1224 Jack Dayton Circle, Young Harris, Georgia 30582. All proposals must be sealed and should be clearly labeled. Proposals received after the specified date and time will not be considered.

This selected engineering firm will be expected to work with the Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority to complete preliminary engineering work associated with Water and Environmental Services.

Please direct all questions to Mr. Nathan Noblet, Chairman, townscountywater@gmail.com. Questions should be submitted in writing by email no later than fifteen (15) calendar days before the deadline. Questions will be answered via addendum only.

TOWNS COUNTY WATER AND SEWERAGE AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

ENGINEERING SERVICES

WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Background This selected engineering firm will be expected to work with the Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority to provide engineering services for water supply improvements, including but not limited to planning, preliminary engineering, permitting, funding assistance, surveying, mapping, design, and construction administration.

All activities must be performed in strict adherence to applicable federal and state regulations.

Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority will select the firm it determines to be most qualified to provide engineering services for its water system. This procurement will support possible funding through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), Economic Development Administration (EDA), Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), USDA Rural Development, and/or funding agency subject to requirements of 2 CFR 200 for procurement.

Scope The selected firm will be responsible for preliminary report, design, and construction administration services of projects using state and/or federal funds.

The following engineering services must be provided at a minimum:

1. Preparation of final design, plans, and specifications.

2. The securing of all necessary permits and clearances as applicable to comply with state and federal mandates. For these projects the engineering will be required to provide engineering plans/drawings showing all dimensions drawn to current engineering standards and the required plans in order for the contractor to apply for permits.

3. Preparation of bid and contract documents, including advertising and bidding procedures, holding the bidders conference, bid openings, and evaluations.

4. Post-award services, including securing the construction firm’s certifications and review of specifications, warranties, operation manuals, and as-built drawings.

5. Construction services including supervision/administration of construction, review of payment requests, change orders, and other coordination with the construction firm. Periodic construction review (at least one visit per week during regular working hours) and other work as required in assuring proper execution of the work. Periodic construction review must ensure that the construction firm’s methods of construction provides for the same.

6. Construction close-out, final inspection, project certification, and coordination with the Towns Couty Water and Sewerage Authority.

Schedule To be considered, proposals must be received by 2:00 p.m., April 10, 2026, at Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority, Attn: Chairman Nathan Noblet. All proposals must be sealed and should be clearly labeled. Any proposals received after 2:00 p.m., April 10, 2026, or at any location other than Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority at, 1224 Jack Dayton Circle, Young Harris 30582 will not be considered.

Proposal Contents Responses are to be returned to Chairman Nathan Noblet where an initial evaluation of the proposals will be completed. Those evaluations will be submitted to the Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority’s Council for final selection. Respondents are requested to include letterhead pages immediately behind the cover letter that briefly, directly, and exactly answers the following evaluation criteria questions:

1. Your firm’s experience, particularly with state and federal funding guidelines related to design, bidding, inspections and close out. Please refer to specific pages in the proposal that answer each category of experience. References must include the names and telephone numbers of local governments, personnel involved, and a brief description of the projects.

2. Your firm’s prior experience with the Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority. Please refer to specific pages in the proposal that answer each category of experience.

3. At a minimum, the engineering firm’s proposal should also provide the following information:

a. A brief history of the engineering firm and its principal personnel including resumes of the principals.

b. The length of time the firm has been providing the specific kind of engineering services requested herein.

c. The name(s) and professional experience of the firm’s key personnel who will be assigned to this project. Firm must also state how much direct experience the personnel assigned to this project has had with state and federal funded projects.

d. Cost schedules for general services, in addition to cost schedules for additional services.

e. Fees for reimbursable expenses, if applicable.

f. The firm must provide a professional services contract.

g. A proposed plan to implement the project, including key timelines and milestones.

h. A written release authorizing all investigations necessary.

i. Forecast for future so as to provide engineering services for this community for 5 years.

Selection Procedures for selection of an individual/firm will be in accordance with the RFQ package and local procurement requirements, as well as the requirements of the Uniform Administration Requirements (“the common rule”) 24 CFR Part 85.

All qualifications will be evaluated in terms of project approach, quality of work, experience, capacity to perform, mobility, and project familiarity. Past performance on other projects may also be assessed in terms of timeliness, completing within budget, and other factors.

Fair Housing This project must affirmatively further fair housing, take steps to analyze impediments to fair housing choice in the Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority, and take steps to overcome any identified impediments in efforts to promote fair housing for city residents.

Section 504 This project must ensure that no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from the participation in or be denied the benefits of services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination of any such entity as prescribed by law in the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794, as amended.

Disclaimer Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals. Towns County Water and Sewerage Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer.