HCWA RFQ.pdf

Request for Qualifications:

Engineering Services for

Downtown Franklin Water and Sewer Line

Improvements Project (ARC)

Heard County Water Authority

11520 GA 34 W

Franklin, GA 30217

(706) 675-3358

Issue Date: August 17, 2026

SOQ Due Date: October 9, 2026 https://www.google.com/search?q=heard+county+water+authority&newwindow=1&sca_esv=b15e692cad2bee86&rlz=1C1YTUH_enUS1151US1151&aep=48&cs=0&hl=en-US&biw=1920&bih=911&sxsrf=ANbL-n5Pa5J6I-CA8I3aAUClsA5TiPsaxQ%3A1778850074874&ei=GhkHas2KNcLJwN4P2MzwoQ0&ved=0ahUKEwjN_8j2rLuUAxXCJNAFHVgmPNQQ4dUDCBI&uact=5&oq=heard+county+water+authority&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiHGhlYXJkIGNvdW50eSB3YXRlciBhdXRob3JpdHkyChAjGIAEGIoFGCcyBBAjGCcyBBAjGCcyCxAuGK8BGMcBGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeSO8JUN8EWOYHcAF4AJABAJgBT6ABtQGqAQEzuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIDoAKTAcICChAAGEcY1gQYsAPCAhEQLhivARjHARiRAhiABBiKBZgDAIgGAZAGCJIHATOgB_sbsgcBMrgHjwHCBwUwLjIuMcgHCIAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Request for Qualifications

August 17th, 2026

Page - 1

Section 1: Introduction Summary

The Heard County Water Authority (“Owner” or “HCWA”) is soliciting Statements of Qualifications from professional firms interested in providing Engineering Services for the following (“Project”):

• Downtown Franklin Water and Sewer Improvements (ARC)

This project is funded in part by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) under ARC

Project No. GA-22580 and is administered by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) as the

Registered State Basic Agency (RSBA).

This Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) seeks to identify potential providers of the above-mentioned services. One or more firms that respond to this RFQ and that are determined by the Owner to be especially qualified, may be deemed eligible and may be invited to discuss and negotiate for these services.

All Respondents to this RFQ are subject to instructions communicated in this document and are cautioned to completely review the entire RFQ and follow instructions carefully. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all statements of qualifications, and to waive technicalities and informalities at the discretion of the Owner.

Restriction of Communication: From the issue date of this RFQ until a successful proposer is selected, proposers are not allowed to communicate for any reason with any members of the Selection Committee or the Owner’s staff, except for:

1. Submission of questions as instructed in the RFQ,

2. As provided by any existing work agreement(s).

For violation of this provision, the Owner reserves the right to reject the proposal of the offender.

It is the responsibility of the qualified consultant to be aware of and familiar with applicable local, state, and federal grant compliance requirements associated with such projects, including Federal Labor

Standards, Equal Opportunity, and Accessibility Requirements.

Solicitation

This Request for Qualifications for the Project invites Statements of Qualifications (SOQ), from

Consultants according to the requirements set forth in this RFQ, including the format and content guidelines specified. SOQs will be reviewed and evaluated by the HCWA selection team and ranked in the order of most qualified using the criteria and process described herein.

Upon completion of the evaluation process, HCWA will notify all Respondents. The top-ranked

Respondent will be selected for contract award or invited to enter negotiations for the final terms of the

Owner’s Agreement for Professional Services. If the Owner determines that the top-ranked

Respondent(s)’s proposed terms are not advantageous to the Owner, the Owner may terminate negotiations and proceed to the next-highest ranked Respondent.

Open Records

All materials submitted in connection with this RFQ will be public documents and subject to the Open

Records Act and policies of the HCWA. All such materials shall remain the property of HCWA.

If the Consultant has notified the Owner Contact that the Consultant’s submittal contains trade secrets, proprietary commercial or financial information, which is privileged and confidential, HCWA will make every effort to protect those portions of the submittal. The title page and each page containing proprietary information must be marked.

Page - 2

Section 1.1: General Project Information

ARC PROJECT

Project Name: Downtown Franklin Water and Sewer Line Improvements Project

Project Location: 100 Newnan St, Franklin, Georgia 30217

Funding Agency: Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

Project Description

HCWA has been awarded funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to construct water and sewer infrastructure improvements within the downtown area of Franklin that are aging and in need of critical repair. This project would further the ARC Goal #3: “Building Appalachia's Infrastructure" by addressing non-standardized infrastructure with recurring issues including frequent repairs, odor problems, lack of filtration, dead-end lines and flow issues, and unknown valve locations.

This project involves improvements to approximately 1,660 linear feet of existing 6-inch ductile iron pipe

(DIP) water main located along Newnan Street, extending from Main Street to Maple Street, a key corridor within the downtown service area. The existing infrastructure is aged and in need of rehabilitation or replacement to address ongoing operational and maintenance concerns, and may include relocation of the water line from beneath Newnan Street into the adjacent right-of-way.

Figure 1. Existing Water Main Alignment Along Newman Street

In addition to the Newnan Street corridor, the Authority is also evaluating potential improvements to the water distribution system surrounding Franklin Town Square, as shown below, due to a history of leaks and pipe failures in this area. These improvements may include upgrades to system looping, replacement of deficient piping, and other measures necessary to improve overall system reliability and performance within the downtown core.

Page - 3

Figure 2. Existing Water Main Alignment Along Franklin Town Square

These improvements are intended to enhance system reliability, improve hydraulic performance, and reduce ongoing maintenance concerns within a highly visible and economically important area of downtown Franklin. The project will also support long-term community and economic resiliency by providing dependable utility service to residents, businesses, and local government facilities.

Responding firms should be technically qualified and licensed to provide design and engineering services relevant to the scope of work, with demonstrated experience in municipal water infrastructure replacement projects. Services to be provided will include planning, permitting, preliminary engineering, design, funding coordination, bidding, and construction phase services.

It is the responsibility of the qualified consultant to be aware of and familiar with local, state, and federal grant compliance requirements of such projects (Federal Labor Standards, Equal Opportunity and

Accessibility Requirements).

Project Goals

• Provide reliable and regulatory-compliant infrastructure

• Reduction in flow issues

• Removal of unknown valve locations

Project Schedule

All dates are estimates and subject to change.

• Preliminary Engineering Report (PER): December 11, 2026

• Design: March 4, 2027

• Construction: May 24, 2027 – November 26, 2027

Page - 4

Section 2: Procurement Process Acknowledgement of RFQ

Each potential Respondent shall acknowledge via email, to the Owner Contact listed below, no later than

5:00 p.m., August 28, 2026, that it has received the RFQ. Identify and provide full contact information for the firm’s primary point of contact for any future documents, notices, and addenda associated with this

RFQ.

Submittal of Questions and Requests for Clarification

Questions about any aspect of the RFQ, or the Projects, must be submitted via email to the Owner Contact.

The deadlines for submission of questions related to the RFQ are the times and dates shown in the RFQ

Schedule of Events below. Respondents are cautioned to review and adhere to the Restriction of

Communication (See Section 5). Late submissions will not be accepted.

Communications

The Owner Contact will act as the sole point of contact for this RFQ and will administer the RFQ process.

All communications should be submitted in writing via email, and specifically reference this RFQ. This

RFQ is subject to revision after the date of issuance via written Addenda. Any such addenda will be distributed directly to known Respondents via email. All questions and responses will be shared by

Addenda with all parties having acknowledged the RFQ.

Please direct questions to the Owner Contact as follows:

Ms. Beth Cantrell

Executive Director

HCWA

11520 Georgia Highway 34 W

Franklin, GA 30217

Phone: (706) 675-3358

Email: bcantrell@myhcwa.com

RFQ Schedule of Events

The following Schedule of Events represents the Owner’s best estimate of the schedule that will be followed.

All times indicated are prevailing times in Georgia. The Owner reserves the right to adjust the schedule as the Owner deems necessary.

Owner Issues public advertisement of RFQ for a period of 30 days (minimum).

August 17, 2026

Deadline for Acknowledgement of RFQ August 28, 2026 5:00 PM

Deadline for Written Questions / Request for

Clarifications

September 11, 2026 5:00 PM

Deadline for submission of Statements of

Qualifications

October 9, 2026 5:00 PM

Final Selection and Award October 20, 2026

Page - 5

Section 3: Submittal Requirements Submittal and Due Date

Respondents shall deliver (3) complete copies and a memory drive containing the digitally published version (PDF) of the SOQ to the Owner Contact at the address noted above no later than October 9, 2026 at

5:00 p.m. local time. Each Respondent assumes full responsibility for timely submittal of its SOQ at the required location. The Respondent shall furnish and sign all information required by the RFQ. An authorized agent of the company must sign on behalf of the firm.

Format

Each Statement of Qualifications shall provide a straightforward, concise delineation of Respondent’s capabilities. Fancy, colored displays, and promotional materials are not desired. Emphasis must be on completeness, relevance, and clarity of content. The content of all Statements of Qualifications must be categorized as outlined below, and responsive to all requested information.

Content

Submittal of Statements of Qualifications

Three bound Statements of Qualifications must be delivered to the Owner at the listed address and should be delivered in accordance with instructions in the RFQ package prior to the submittal deadline.

• Provide one original, signed in wet ink, with 2 copies stamped “COPY.”

• Include 1 published copy saved to a memory stick.

• Bind submittals in 1 or 1-1/2-inch, 3-ring binders with dividers separating the Sections, as needed.

• Publish pages on standard 8 ½ x 11-inch paper; number each page.

• Include a table of contents with corresponding tabs to identify Sections.

• Limit SOQs to 12 pages or less using minimum 11-point font.

• 11 x 17-inch pages shall count as 1 page each.

• Resumes, exhibits, affidavits, or other enclosure information called for may be included in an appendix and will not count toward the page limit.

Letter of Interest

Provide a 1-page Letter of Interest describing how the Authority will benefit with your firm as a trusted advisor. In the letter, please acknowledge receipt of any and all Addenda.

Description and Resources of Firm

• Provide basic company information: Company name, address, name of primary contact, telephone number, email address, and company website. If the firm has multiple offices, the qualification statement shall include information about the parent company and branch office separately. Identify office from which project will be managed and this office’s proximity to the project site. Provide form of ownership, including state of residency or incorporation, and number of years in business. Is the offeror a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), joint venture, or other structure.

• Briefly describe the history and growth of your firm(s). Provide general information about the firm’s personnel resources, including disciplines and numbers of employees and locations and staffing of offices.

• Provide a statement of disclosure, which will allow the Owner to evaluate possible conflicts of interest. Respondents must provide, in their own format, a statement of all potential legal or otherwise significant conflicts of interests possibly created by the Respondent’s being considered in the selection process or by the Respondent’s involvement in the project. Respondents should include information as to the nature of relationship(s) with parties in such potential conflict.

• Has the firm ever been removed from a Service Contract, had a contract terminated for default, or failed to complete a contract as assigned.

Page - 6

Qualifications

Respondents should possess and demonstrate a minimum of 20 years of firm / key team member experience in the water and wastewater arena for municipal, public or private agencies. Engineering Respondent’s key team members, including the Project Manager and Project Engineer(s), should be licensed Professional

Engineers in the State of Georgia.

Include resumes for key team members in the Appendix. Resumes should be 1-page maximum length.

Experience

Provide information on the firm’s A/E Consulting Services experience on projects of similar type, size, function, and complexity. Describe no more than and no less than 5 projects completed in the last 10 years, in order of most relevant to least relevant, which demonstrate the firm's capabilities to perform the project at hand.

For each project, the following information shall be provided:

• Project name, location, and dates during which services were performed.

• Brief description of project (pipe size, length, installation method, replacement or rehabilitation scope, and key challenges).

• Description of project outcomes, including improvements to system performance, reliability, or regulatory compliance (if applicable).

• Services performed by the Respondent.

• Owner contact information including email and telephone number.

Respondents should have a minimum of 20 years of progressive project experience in water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Respondents should also have experience with local, state, and federal grant compliance requirements such as Federal Labor Standards and Equal Opportunity and Accessibility

Requirements. Respondents should have prior experience with getting Owner’s reimbursement through federal grants.

Respondents should demonstrate familiarity with the Owner’s operational procedures, design standards, and project delivery expectations. Prior experience working with the Owner on similar projects is preferred.

Statement of Suitability

Provide any information that may serve to differentiate the firm from other firms in suitability for the projects. Suitability may include, but is not limited to, the firm’s fit to the project and/or needs of the Owner, any special or unique qualifications for the projects, current and projected workload, the proximity of office to the project locations, and any services that may be particularly suitable to the projects.

Compensation and Fee Negotiation

Billing rates, fee schedules, and cost proposals shall not be included in the Statement of Qualifications.

Compensation for services will be negotiated with the highest-ranked firm(s) following completion of the qualifications-based selection process, in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal procurement requirements.

Page - 7

Section 4: Evaluation and Selection Evaluation Criteria

A selection team comprised of HCWA Staff and/or Board representatives will evaluate and rank the responsive SOQs that best satisfy the Project requirements. The selection team will apply the evaluation criteria below.

Evaluation Criteria Value

Description and Resources of Firm 25

Qualifications 30

Experience and Past Performance 25

Statement of Suitability 20

Selection Process

After evaluation of Statements of Qualifications, the top-ranked Respondent will be selected for contract award or invited to enter negotiations for the final terms of the Owner’s Agreement for Professional

Services. If the Owner determines that the top-ranked Respondent(s)’s proposed terms are not advantageous to the Owner, the Owner may terminate negotiations and proceed to the next-highest ranked

Respondent.

Page - 8

Section 5: Additional Terms and Conditions Restriction of Communication

From the issuance of this RFQ until a successful Respondent is selected and the selection is publicly announced, Respondents shall not communicate regarding this solicitation or the Project with any member of the Selection Committee or the Owner, except as expressly permitted in this RFQ. Violation of this provision may result in disqualification.

Submittal Costs and Confidentiality

All costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a response shall be borne solely by the Respondent.

The Owner shall not be responsible for reimbursement of any such costs. All submittals become the property of the Owner upon receipt. Submittals are subject to the Georgia Open Records Act. Any information submitted that is considered proprietary should be clearly marked; however, such designation does not guarantee confidentiality. Proposal contents will remain confidential until the final award is made, to the extent permitted by law.

Award Conditions

This request is not an offer to contract or a solicitation of bids. This request and any statement of qualifications submitted in response, regardless of whether the statement of qualifications is determined to be the best statement of qualifications, is not binding upon the Owner and does not obligate the Owner to procure or contract for any services. Neither the Owner nor any party submitting a response will be bound unless and until a written contract mutually accepted by both parties is negotiated as to its terms and conditions and is signed by the Owner and a party containing such terms and conditions as are negotiated between those parties. The Owner reserves the right to waive non-compliance with any requirements of this

Request for Qualifications and to reject any or all statements of qualifications submitted in responses. Upon receipt and review of responses, the Owner will determine the party(s) and statement(s) of qualifications that in the sole judgment of the Owner is in the best interest of the Owner (if any is so determined), with respect to the evaluation criteria stated herein. The Owner then intends to conduct negotiations with such party(s) to determine if a mutually acceptable contract may be reached.

The Owner reserves the right to:

• Reject any or all submittals.

• Waive technicalities or informalities.

• Request clarification of information submitted.

• Cancel or reissue this RFQ.

Award, if made, will be to the Respondent determined to be most qualified based on the evaluation criteria.

Contract negotiations will then be conducted with that Respondent. If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached, the Owner reserves the right to terminate negotiations and proceed to the next-ranked Respondent.

Statement of Agreement

By submitting a Statement of Qualifications, the Respondent acknowledges that it has carefully reviewed the requirements of this solicitation and accepts responsibility for requesting clarification of any provisions it finds unclear or with which it disagrees. Failure to identify such issues in the Statement of Qualifications shall be interpreted as acceptance of all terms, conditions, specifications, and requirements contained herein.

The Respondent further certifies that: (a) the Statement of Qualifications is genuine and is not submitted on behalf of any undisclosed person or entity; (b) the Respondent has not directly or indirectly colluded with or solicited any other party to submit an insincere or non-responsive proposal; and (c) the Respondent has not taken any action to restrict or limit competition, including inducing any person or firm to refrain from submitting a Statement of Qualifications.

Page - 9

Section 6: Grant Administration and Compliance Requirements This project is funded in part by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) under Project No. GA-22580 and will be administered through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) as the Registered State

Basic Agency (RSBA).

The selected Consultant shall support the Owner in fulfilling all grant administration, documentation, and compliance requirements associated with this funding.

Coordination and Agency Interface

The Consultant shall coordinate with the Owner and assist in communications with:

• Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), acting as RSBA.

• Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).

• State program representatives, as applicable.

The Consultant shall provide necessary technical information and documentation to support Owner coordination with these entities throughout the duration of the project.

Progress Reporting Support

The Consultant shall assist the Owner in preparing documentation required for grant reporting, including:

• Semiannual progress reports.

• Supporting data for performance tracking and project status updates.

Documentation shall include measurable progress, schedule status, and project milestones sufficient to support reporting requirements.

Reimbursement and Payment Documentation

The Consultant shall support the Owner in obtaining reimbursement of project costs by:

• Preparing or reviewing contractor pay applications.

• Verifying quantities and completed work.

• Providing documentation necessary to support payment requests.

• Maintaining records sufficient to demonstrate that costs are allowable, reasonable, and properly incurred.

All documentation shall be organized and maintained in a manner suitable for audit review.

Scope, Schedule, and Budget Consistency

The Consultant shall ensure that project deliverables remain consistent with the approved grant scope, schedule, and budget. The Consultant shall notify the Owner of any potential deviations that may require coordination, modification, or approval through the applicable funding agencies.

Construction Procurement and Contract Documents

The Consultant shall support the Owner in procuring construction services by:

• Preparing plans, specifications, and contract documents.

• Incorporating all required federal provisions into bid and contract documents.

• Assisting with bid administration and evaluation.

All procurement-related documents shall be structured to support compliance with applicable funding requirements.

Construction Phase Compliance Support

During construction, the Consultant shall:

• Monitor contractor compliance with applicable federal requirements included in the contract documents.

Page - 10

• Maintain documentation of construction progress and contract administration activities.

• Identify and report any compliance issues to the Owner.

Domestic Material Compliance (Buy America)

The Consultant shall:

• Specify materials in accordance with applicable domestic sourcing requirements.

• Review contractor submittals for compliance with these requirements.

• Assist the Owner in addressing any non-compliance or waiver needs, if applicable.

Recordkeeping and Audit Support

The Consultant shall:

• Maintain project records related to design, procurement, and construction.

• Provide documentation upon request by the Owner or administering agencies.

• Assist the Owner in responding to audits, reviews, or compliance inquiries.

All records shall be maintained in an organized and accessible manner for the duration required by applicable regulations.

Federal Funding Acknowledgement Requirements

The Consultant shall ensure that all project-related public documents, including bid documents and specifications, include required statements regarding federal funding participation, as provided by the Owner.

Page - 11

Section 7: Additional Required Content Forms

Include the items described in Attachment A and return them in the SOQ’s Appendix including:

• Firm’s comments, if any, on the proposed agreement for consulting services.

• Provide Sample Certificate of Insurance meeting requirements found in agreement.

Respondents are required to complete the forms in Attachment B and return them in the SOQ including:

• Consultant’s Affidavit (E-Verify) (O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91)

• SAVE Affidavit (O.C.G.A. § 50-36-1) + secure and verifiable ID

• IRS Form W-9

Page - 12

Attachment A

• Insurance Requirements (As described in the Agreement for General Consulting Services)

(To be submitted by the Respondent)

Attachment B Mandatory Forms - The following forms must be completed and returned with the Respondent’s proposal in the SOQ’s Appendix:

• Consultant’s Affidavit (E-Verify)

• SAVE Affidavit

• IRS Form W-9