Minimal Qualifications for Small Architecture & Engineering Design Services

This document establishes the minimum qualifications for the Prime Consultant and team members responding to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Small Architectural & Engineering (A&E) Project Basic Ordering Agreement in Maryland. The WSSC is soliciting sealed responses for comprehensive design and construction administration services for existing WSSC office buildings, depots, laboratories, warehouses, and other occupied vertical facilities. The scope of work encompasses architectural design, mechanical (HVAC) systems design, electrical design, plumbing design, structural design, civil/site works design, IT security services, low-voltage instrumentation control services, and all associated permit coordination and project management support. Sealed responses must be submitted via WSSC's eProcurement Portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/wsscwater prior to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., with questions due by March 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The contract includes a base term of three years at $2,000,000 per selected firm, plus two optional one-year renewal terms of $500,000 each, for a potential total of $3,000,000 per firm over five years, with WSSC awarding up to two firms.

The Prime Consultant must have been in business for a minimum of five years and completed at least ten architectural design or engineering projects in the past eight years, with a minimum of five projects located in Maryland, DC, or Virginia covering all project phases. The Prime Consultant's team must demonstrate experience obtaining Maryland Department of Environment Construction, Storm Water Control Permits, and Erosion and Sediment Control Permits, with at least two projects showing issued MDE storm water control or sediment control permits. A licensed architect or professional engineer licensed in Maryland must be designated as the Project Manager and must reside in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area with confirmed availability for the contract's first task. If the Prime Consultant is a Joint Venture, it must have been formed prior to the bid date and demonstrate completion of projects as a Joint Venture. Individual task orders will be negotiated separately on either a lump sum or cost reimbursement basis, with direct labor costs reimbursed at hourly rates. The contract includes a 32% Minority Business Enterprise and Small Local Business Enterprise subcontracting goal, and the contractor must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 minimum per occurrence, Umbrella Liability of $1,000,000, and Errors or Omissions Liability of $1,000,000.