biddoc.pdf

Request for Bids: Architectural and Structural Engineering Services

Preapproved Single-Family Home Plan Sets Huerfano County Solicitation #2026-04

July 20, 2026

1 Summary of Request The Board of County Commissioners of Huerfano County (the "County") invites qualified architecture firms and architect/engineer teams to submit bids for the design of four reusable, detached single-family home prototype plan sets. The County intends to establish a library of plans that can be reviewed for preapproval by the Huerfano County Land Use and Building Department and made available for repeated use within the County.

The selected consultant will provide complete architectural documents and above-foundation structural and framing design for each prototype. Foundation plans, foundation calculations, and site-specific foundation engineering are not part of this scope. Each future construction project will still require a separate building permit and site-specific documentation, including a site plan and a foundation design prepared for the actual site conditions.

The County seeks designs that are economical to build, durable, attractive, adaptable to common lot conditions, and compatible with rural and small-town development patterns in Huerfano County. The consultant should favor straightforward construction, efficient material use, and coordination with conventional framing, panelization, and truss fabrication where practical.

2 Submission Information Written submissions for the supply of the services described herein will be accepted until Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 4PM MT. Any response received after that time will not be considered.

The County will only accept electronic submissions in response to this RFP. Electronic submissions are required to be considered for an award. Please plan for a maximum file size of 2GB.

To submit your Bid online, please visit www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado/huerfano-county-government.

If you experience problems submitting your electronic response, please contact the Bidnet Direct technical support team (800-835-4603) prior to the submission deadline. Please allocate sufficient time to submit your proposal to the Bidnet website. The 4PM Mountain Time deadline is a hard stop. You must save your submission to the site before the deadline or you will be locked out and your submission will not be accepted.

3 Questions Procedural and technical questions are to be submitted in writing to Carl Young, County Administrator, at administrator@huerfano.us or online through Bidnet Direct. Questions will be accepted until

Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 4PM MT. A summary of questions and answers will be released according to the schedule in Section 5 below.

4 Anticipated Timeline The following schedule is for planning purposes. The County may revise dates by addendum. All times are Mountain Time.

Milestone Date / Target

RFB issued and posted July 15, 2026

Deadline for written questions July 22, 2026, 4:00 p.m.

Target date for County responses/addenda July 24, 2026

Electronic bids due July 29, 2026, 4:00 p.m.

Evaluation, clarification, and reference checks July 31, 2026

Target notice of intent to award August 7, 2026

Contract execution and kickoff August 7,2026

Required final completion* September 25, 2026 *No extensions permitted on project completion

Bidder schedule. Each bidder shall provide a milestone schedule showing elapsed calendar days from notice to proceed through kickoff, schematic design, design development, 90 percent preapproval submittal, comment response, and final delivery. A faster well-supported schedule may receive favorable consideration.

5 Project Goals

• Create four code-compliant, repeatable single-family home designs that can be efficiently adapted to individual sites.

• Reduce design time and cost for future homeowners, developers, nonprofit housing providers, and public partners.

• Provide a balanced mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes suitable for traditional grid lots and standard or wider lots.

• Deliver architectural and above-foundation structural plan sets that are clear, coordinated, constructible, and ready for County preapproval review.

• Maintain distinct architectural character through varied footprints, roof forms, porches, entries, window patterns, and exterior material treatments while controlling construction cost.

• The County intends to work with the WE Build Trade program to provide panel walls, floor systems, and truss systems for homeowners wishing to use the plans.

6 Design Program The base bid shall include four distinct detached single-family designs. Unless modified by the County during the kickoff phase, bidders should assume the following program:

Design Program Lot / Planning Intent

A 1 bed / 1 bath Tiny home design < 400 sq. ft.

Design Program Lot / Planning Intent

B 1 or 2 bed / 1 bath Mountain cabin or barndominium

C 2 bed / 2 bath Traditional or narrow grid lot; efficient width and street-facing entry

D 3 bed / 2 bath Standard or wider lot; distinct footprint and exterior character

Bidder assumptions. Because final target square footage, garage or carport options, accessibility features, mechanical systems, and exterior material palettes have not been fixed, each bidder shall clearly state the assumptions used to prepare its fee. The County will confirm the final program during kickoff without materially expanding the agreed scope.

Plan sets shall include the following plan sheets as detailed in 7.2

• Cover Sheet and details 2024 IRC compliance

• First floor plan

• Reflected ceiling plan

• Roof Plan

• Building elevations

• Building sections

• Wall Sections

• Door and window schedules

• Finish plan

• Structural Framing Plan

7 Scope of Services

7.1 Project Management and Programming

• Conduct a kickoff meeting with County administration and Land Use and Building staff.

• Confirm the design program, target users, target construction cost considerations, lot assumptions, preferred building systems, and required plan-library format.

• Prepare a concise design criteria matrix for County approval before advancing the four prototypes.

• Maintain a schedule, decision log, and consolidated comment-response matrix through final acceptance.

7.2 Architectural Design and Documentation

For each of the four prototypes, the architectural scope shall include, at a minimum:

• Cover sheet, drawing index, project data, applicable code summary, design criteria, and general notes.

• Dimensioned floor plans showing all rooms, doors, windows, fixtures, appliances, stairs where applicable, and coordinated structural elements.

• Roof plan and drainage concept, including slopes, overhangs, penetrations, and coordination with truss or rafter systems.

• Exterior elevations for all sides, including heights, materials, openings, porches, decks, and other attached elements included in the prototype.

• Building sections, wall sections, enlarged details, fireblocking and draftstopping details, weather-resistive enclosure details, and other construction details necessary for permit review and construction.

• Door and window schedules, finish and material notes, life-safety notes, smoke and carbon monoxide alarm locations, and energy-code coordination appropriate to the prototype scope.

• One presentation-quality exterior perspective or rendering for each design.

7.3 Above-Foundation Structural Engineering

The base bid shall include structural engineering for all four prototypes, excluding foundations. The structural engineer shall coordinate directly with the architect and provide signed and sealed drawings and calculations for the complete gravity and lateral load path above the foundation interface.

• Structural design criteria and general notes, including applicable loads and material standards.

• Floor framing, roof framing, wall framing, beams, headers, posts, ledgers, decks, porches, and integral exterior structures included in the prototype.

• Braced wall or engineered shear wall layouts, hold-down requirements, collectors, drag struts, diaphragms, and other lateral-force-resisting elements.

• Connection schedules and details for framing, hardware, uplift, shear transfer, and truss-to-wall or rafter-to-wall anchorage.

• Design and coordination criteria for engineered wood trusses. Manufacturer-prepared roof and floor truss and wall panel shop drawings may remain a delegated design item if clearly identified and coordinated.

• Structural framing calculations sufficient for County review and future site-specific coordination.

FOUNDATION EXCLUSION: Do not include foundation plans, footing or slab design, basement or crawlspace design, retaining wall design, geotechnical services, or site-specific foundation calculations in the base bid. The structural deliverables must instead provide complete loads and interface requirements for a separately procured site-specific foundation design. Design floor systems for stem wall and crawl space

7.4 Code and Preapproval Coordination

• Coordinate at appropriate milestones with Huerfano County Land Use and Building staff to confirm the intended preapproval process and required document format.

• Design to the codes and local amendments in effect at final submittal. As of the RFB issue date, the County has adopted the 2024 International Residential Code, 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, 2024 International Mechanical Code, and 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, with local amendments, as applicable to the work.

• Confirm County design criteria for snow, wind, seismic, exposure, wildfire-related requirements, and other location-sensitive conditions. The final prototypes shall either use an agreed Countywide design envelope or clearly state the geographic and design-criteria limits of preapproval.

• Prepare and submit the 90 percent plan sets for County review, respond to consolidated comments, and provide one complete resubmittal cycle within the base fee.

• Clearly identify items that remain site-specific or deferred, including site plan, foundation design, utilities, truss shop drawings where delegated, and trade permits or submittals.

7.5 Meetings and Presentations

The base fee shall include the following meetings, which may be held in person or virtually as approved by the County:

• One project kickoff and programming meeting.

• One schematic design review workshop covering all four prototypes.

• One 90 percent coordination and preapproval review meeting.

• One final presentation to County staff and/or the Board of County Commissioners, if requested.

7.6 Final Deliverables

• Four final architectural plan sets, signed and sealed by a Colorado-licensed architect.

• Four coordinated above-foundation structural plan sets and supporting calculations, signed and sealed by a Colorado-licensed professional engineer authorized to practice structural engineering.

• Searchable PDF plan sets formatted for 24-by-36-inch printing, plus reduced 11-by-17-inch PDF sets.

• Editable native drawing/model files and linked details used to produce the final plans, with an accompanying file index and any nonproprietary support files.

• Final renderings, code/design criteria matrix, project specifications or outline specifications, and consolidated County comment-response log.

• A concise user guide explaining the plan-library limits, required site-specific documents, permitted modifications, and the process for adapting a prototype to a future site.

7.7 Reuse and Licensing

The County intends to reuse the completed plans for multiple projects. At a minimum, the County shall receive a perpetual, royalty-free, nonexclusive license to reproduce, distribute, and authorize site-specific adaptation of the final plan sets for projects within Huerfano County. The consultant may retain copyright and authorship rights, and its seal shall apply only to unmodified original documents. The bidder shall identify any proposed license limitations or required adaptation procedures in its bid. The County shall work with the selected firm on liability waivers on future use of designs.

8 Base-Scope Exclusions and Site-Specific Documents Unless expressly added by written amendment, the following are excluded from the base scope:

• Foundation plans, geotechnical investigations, soils reports, site-specific foundation design, retaining walls, and underpinning.

• Boundary or topographic surveys, site plans, grading and drainage, civil engineering, floodplain analysis, access permits, utility extensions, wells, septic systems, and water or sanitation approvals.

• Site-specific mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire sprinkler, photovoltaic, or utility engineering beyond the architectural coordination and code notes expressly described in this RFB.

• Permit application fees, review fees, special inspections, testing, construction observation, contractor means and methods, and construction administration after final plan acceptance.

• Adaptation of a prototype to a specific parcel, owner-requested customization, or redesign caused by site conditions or code changes after County acceptance.

Important: Preapproval of the prototype architectural and above-foundation structural documents will not constitute a building permit for any specific property. Each future applicant must submit the site-specific documents and approvals required by Huerfano County at the time of permit application.

9 Minimum Qualifications

• The prime consultant shall be led by an architect licensed and in good standing in the State of Colorado.

• Structural engineering shall be performed and sealed by a Colorado-licensed professional engineer with relevant residential structural experience.

• The team shall demonstrate successful completion of at least two comparable residential design assignments within the past seven years.

• The team shall have adequate capacity to meet the proposed schedule and maintain coordinated document production through County acceptance.

• The selected consultant shall maintain insurance and execute the County's professional services agreement before beginning work.

10 Submission Requirements Submit one searchable PDF organized in the following order. The main response should not exceed 25 pages, excluding resumes, sample sheets, and the completed bid form.

1. Cover Letter Identify the prime firm, authorized representative, legal business name, office location, and commitment to perform the work. The Cover letter should include a disclosure of the name of any employee or official of Huerfano County who could be directly and personally benefited if the bidder is awarded a contract pursuant to this solicitation. If there is nothing to disclose, the response shall so state.

2. Project Understanding Describe the firm's understanding of the County's goals, the preapproved-plan concept, and the explicit exclusion of foundation plans.

3. Approach and Work Plan Explain the proposed design process, County coordination, quality-control procedures, code review, structural coordination, and method for managing prototype reuse and site-specific limitations.

4. Team and Qualifications Provide an organization chart, key personnel, Colorado license information, roles, availability, office locations, and relevant rural or public-sector experience.

5. Relevant Experience Provide at least three comparable projects involving single-family prototype plans, affordable or attainable housing, repeatable plan libraries, residential structural design, or local-government permitting.

6. Sample Work Include representative architectural and structural sheets that demonstrate drawing quality, coordination, and constructability. Redact confidential information as needed.

7. Schedule Provide the milestone schedule required in Section 6 and identify any assumptions affecting completion.

8. Fee Proposal Complete Appendix A. State a firm lump-sum base bid, reimbursables, hourly rates, optional services, and all assumptions or exclusions. The maximum budget for this project shall not exceed $25,000.00

9. References Provide three client references with current contact information for similar work.

10. Contract and Risk Information Identify professional liability coverage, any requested contract exceptions, conflicts of interest, litigation or claims relevant to the work, and proposed licensing limitations.

11 Evaluation Criteria The County intends to select the responsive and responsible bidder offering the best overall value.

Award may not be made solely on the lowest fee. The County may request written clarifications, conduct interviews, check references, or negotiate scope and fee with the highest-ranked firm.

Evaluation Category Weight

Qualifications and key personnel 20%

Relevant prototype housing and structural experience 20% Project understanding, approach, and quality-control plan 20% Schedule, availability, and capacity 15% Fee, clarity of assumptions, and overall value 20% References and familiarity with rural Colorado jurisdictions 5%

12 Selection and Contracting Provisions

12.1 General Conditions

• Reserved rights. The County may modify or cancel the solicitation, amend the schedule, waive minor irregularities, reject any or all bids, seek clarification, request additional information, negotiate with one or more bidders, or re-solicit when determined to be in the County's best interest.

• No reimbursement. All costs of preparing and submitting a bid, participating in interviews, and negotiating a contract are the bidder's responsibility.

• Public records. Bids and related correspondence may become public records under the Colorado Open Records Act. Clearly identify information claimed to be confidential or proprietary; the County will make disclosure determinations under applicable law.

• Bid validity. Bids shall remain valid for 90 calendar days after the due date unless the County agrees otherwise in writing.

• Professional responsibility. The selected consultant remains responsible for professional judgment, coordination, accuracy, code compliance, and the acts and omissions of subconsultants.

• Contract award. No work may begin until the County and selected consultant execute a written professional services agreement and the County issues notice to proceed. Funding and award remain subject to County approval.

• Equal opportunity. The County encourages participation by qualified local, small, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses and does not discriminate in procurement on any legally protected basis.

• No guarantee of site permit. County acceptance or preapproval of a prototype does not guarantee that the plan may be constructed on every parcel. Site-specific zoning, access, utilities, geotechnical conditions, foundation design, wildfire, floodplain, and other requirements remain applicable.

• Notification. The County will issue notifications through BidNet Direct, including but not limited to intent to award and/or award.

12.2 Right to Reject

The County reserves the right to waive informalities in the responses or fees and to reject any and all responses and re-advertise this solicitation at any time prior to County Commissioner approval of the recommended firm or individual and the negotiated professional contract for services if doing so would be in the public interest, as determined by the county in its sole discretion. The County reserves the right to award this solicitation to the individual or firm that best fits the requirements outlined in the solicitation. The County reserves the right to waive any informality in any submittal and/or reject all responses, and to accept the response that is in the best interest of the County. The County further reserves the right to: (1) negotiate a final contract that is in the best interests of the county and the public; and (2) request any additional information county deems reasonably necessary to allow the County to evaluate, rank and select the most qualified proposer to perform the services described in this solicitation.

If the County and the selected respondent cannot agree on the contract, the negotiations will be terminated, and the County reserves the right to begin negotiations with the next highest ranked proposer.

12.3 Procedure Requirements

1. Any individual or firm failing to submit information in accordance with the procedures set forth herein may be considered non-responsive.

2. All costs incurred by individuals or firms choosing to participate in this process shall be borne by the proposing individual or firm.

3. All responses submitted regarding this solicitation are the property of the County and will only be returned to the individual or firms if requested in writing to the County at the sole discretion of the County.

4. Late submittals shall not be accepted. It is the responsibility of the individual or firms to ensure that the response arrives at the Huerfano County Administrator’s Office, prior to the date and time stated in this solicitation.

12.4 Conflicts of Interest

Any conflicts of interest whether real or perceived by the individual or firm submitting a response should be fully disclosed and explained within the response.