Pipeline_Trail_Phase_3_-_Architecture_and_Engineering_Services.pdf

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION

2026-RFQ-257

PIPELINE TRAIL PHASE 3 - ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING

SERVICES

Pierce County

1501 Market St, Suite 420

Tacoma, WA 98402

RELEASE DATE: October 30, 2026

DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: November 13, 2026

RESPONSE DEADLINE: November 20, 2026, 1:00 pm

RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:

Request For Qualification #2026-RFQ-257 Title: Pipeline Trail Phase 3 - Architecture and Engineering Services https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/piercecountywa https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/%7bproject.government.code%7d

Pierce County

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION

Pipeline Trail Phase 3 - Architecture and Engineering Services

1. Introduction

2. Scope of Work

3. Submittal Criteria

4. Evaluation and Award Process

5. Evaluation

6. RFQ General Terms and Condition

7. Vendor Questionnaire

Attachments:

A - Exhibit A - Sample Professional Services Agreement

1. Introduction

1.1. Summary

Pierce County Parks and Recreation is requesting Statements of Qualifications from qualified multidisciplinary teams to facilitate the design, engineering, and permitting of Phase 3 of the Pipeline

Trail. The pipeline will connect the current trail termination in the South section of Orangegate Park and the Fruitland Ave E termination. Designs will be developed to construction documents sufficient for public bid. This work includes facilitating public outreach to support the design, supporting grant acquisition, and providing design documents sufficient for permitting and bidding for construction.

The result of this RFQ process will be the negotiation and award of a Professional Services Agreement

(PSA). One firm may be selected for award and negotiation of a PSA. In some cases, the County may elect to assign only specific portions of a project, or in other cases, the entire project including auxiliary associated work to the Consultant. The County reserves the right to reject all submissions and re-advertise the project at a later date.

1.2. Background

In 2019, Pierce County Parks started planning and design for a 5.5-mile asphalt pedestrian trail along the existing Tacoma Public Utilities Pipeline Road corridor, extending from 72nd St E and Waller Road to 128th

St E and 94th Ave E. After reviewing the initial conceptual design, PC Parks divided the project into three

(3) phases due to the estimated cost. Phase 1 extended from 72nd St E and Waller Road to Orangegate

Park and was completed in 2025. Phase 2 is currently in design and will extend from Fruitland Ave E to

94th Ave E. Phase 3 will connect these sections to complete the full 5.5-mile trail.

The Department’s website is a valuable resource for information about the many services provided. Please access the website at www.piercecountywa.org/parks

1.3. Contact Information

Joel Stanger

Procurement & Contracts Specialist

1501 Market St, Suite 420

Tacoma, WA 98402

Email: joel.stanger@piercecountywa.gov

Phone: (253) 798-4250

Department:

Parks and Recreation

Department Head:

Parks and Recreation

Parks Director http://www.piercecountywa.org/parks mailto:joel.stanger@piercecountywa.gov tel:(253)798-4250

1.4. Timeline

Release Project Date October 30, 2026

Question Submission Deadline November 13, 2026, 3:00pm

Proposal Submission Deadline November 20, 2026, 1:00pm

Proposal Evaluation Approximately three weeks after proposal submission deadline, proposals will be evaluated and interviews may be held if multiple proposers are deemed capable of meeting the requirements.

Estimated Notice of Intention to Negotiate a Contract

Approximately six weeks after proposal submission deadline.

Estimated Date of Contract Execution Approximately eight weeks After proposal submission deadline.

2. Scope of Work

2.1. Scope of Work

Provide all planning, design, engineering, permitting services, and construction administration for a proposed non‐motorized, multi‐modal trail alignment beginning at Orangegate Park and following the existing Tacoma Public Utilities Pipeline Road to Fruitland Ave E, approximately 2.2 miles in length. The preferred design will be developed to be implemented into construction anticipated to begin in 2029.

The work will include, but not be limited to the following tasks:

• Review of existing planning documents, public outreach materials, studies, reports, drawings, and property encumbrances

• Professional survey, physical inspection/inventory of existing features and facilities

• Planning and design required to establish preliminary, alternate and final trail alignments, as well as service and residential driveway improvements, parking, and intersection treatments.

Coordination with Pierce County Traffic will be needed to confirm intersection crossing options.

Coordination with Pierce County Stormwater Management will be needed to confirm regulated flood data and associated FEMA requirements.

• Facilitate public outreach processes and project communications; consult with adjacent property owners and other key stakeholders to produce publicly vetted designs for the trail

• Support grant acquisition

• Develop costing and full project timelines considering preliminary investigation, design, permitting, grants, bidding, and construction

• Provide support services in other disciplines as required including, but not limited to:

o Construction cost estimating o Surveying o Geotechnical o Environmental o Cultural Resources o Civil Engineering o Electrical Engineering o Transportation Engineering o Structural Engineering

Dependent on consultant team performance, Parks may amend the PSA of the selected team to include additional phases of design, bidding support, and construction administration.

2.2. Deliverables & Tasks

A. Project Management

1. Project schedule periodically updated as needed to maintain up to date.

2. Participation by Consultant Project Manager in monthly, Project Management meetings.

3. Meeting agendas, handouts, meeting summary minutes, and action/decision/issues/change log for Project Management meetings.

4. Participation by Consultant Project Manager in weekly status updates with Pierce County

Park’s project manager by phone, as needed.

5. Electronic copy of meeting minutes.

6. Support grant acquisition.

B. Concept Design

1. Incorporate information gathered from existing planning documents, site inspections, traffic analysis, wetland review, flood data analysis, and public outreach to create a concept level design and cost estimate.

C. 30% Design and Engineering

1. The work of this task consists of preparing for review a 30% level set of construction drawings developed from the preferred concept design option. This drawing set should include a cover sheet, plans, and at a minimum a list of needed details. Preparation of a technical specification outline, and an updated cost estimate is required.

D. 60% Design and Engineering

1. The work of this task consists of preparing for review a 60% level set of construction drawings. This drawing set should include all required construction drawing sheets and at a minimum a rough draft of needed details. Preparation of technical specifications, an updated cost estimate, and a completed design review comments form (from the 30% design review) is required. The 60% design set will be submitted by the consultant to Pierce

County Planning and Land Services along with any needed supporting permit documentation for any required permitting purposes.

E. 95% Design and Engineering

1. The work of this task consists of preparing for review a 95% level set of construction drawings. This drawing set should be bid ready and include all required construction drawing sheets and details. Completed technical specifications, an updated cost estimate, and a completed design review comments form (from the 60% design review) is required.

F. 100% Design and Engineering/ Bid Documents

1. The work of this task consists of preparing a complete bid ready set of construction documents. This includes all drawing sheets, technical specifications, an updated cost estimate, and scope of work descriptions for the base bid and any additives/alternates for the advertisement to bidders, and a completed design review comments form (from the

95% design review).

2.3. Proposed Work Schedule

DATE ACTIVITY

January 2027 Begin work

January 2027 – January 2028 Public Outreach, Schematic Design, Grant Support

February 2028 – March 2029 Design Development, Permitting, Bid Documents

March 2029 Publicly Bid Construction

March 2029 – September 2030 Completion of construction administration for the first phase

3. Submittal Criteria

2026-RFQ-257, Pipeline Trail Phase 3 - Architecture and Engineering Services

3.1. Submittal Checklist

For proposals to be considered, the following must be included in your submittal:

• A letter of interest from the prime consultant/contractor, signed by the principal professional intended to lead the project effort. The letter needs to include contact information, number of years the consultant/contractor has been in business under current or previous names or additional assumed business names. Provide similar information concerning each subcontracted contractor.

• Provide a comprehensive organizational chart with key personnel for your firm and potential subconsultants, clearly identifying the estimated participation of Minority, Women, and Veteran owned (MWV) businesses and estimated percentage of total work anticipated to be performed by each sub-tier partner.

• Current documentation of employees' Washington State licensed architect, civil engineer, structural engineer, and electrical engineer.

• Your approach to this type of work and explain how you have the experience, qualifications, size, and resources to provide the services listed in the scope of work.

• The name and brief resume of the key individual(s) who would be assigned to this project and an individual assigned to back up the key person in their absences, together with similar information for each individual to be provided under any subcontract.

• A proposal that outlines your firm approach to the work, capacity and availability, as well as any additional services or procedures of benefit to the County not specifically required by this

Request for Qualifications, which the Consultant offers to provide.

• The name and title of the person authorized to execute a contract on behalf of the firm.

• The caption, cause number, Court, Counsel, and general summary of any litigation pending, or judgment rendered within the past three (3) years involving the firm. (if applicable)

• A statement outlining any proposed exceptions to the County’s requirements or requested clarifications to the requirements, including any exceptions to the terms of the County’s standard Services Agreement, a sample of which is attached hereto as “Attachment A.” Firms should understand, however, that the County is typically unwilling to change the terms of its standard Services Agreement and a firm’s inability to agree to those standard terms may be a basis for the County to instead negotiate with one or more other firms.

• References listing customers with contracts for similar services.

• Acknowledgement (via the County's eProcurement Portal) of each addendum issued. (if applicable)

Before you submit, please ensure your company profile in OpenGov and MRSC are up-to-date with your current business designations. Use the provided links below for instructions on updating your profiles.

OpenGov: Updating User Profile, Company Profile, Email Address, Adding an Additional User

MRSC Log In: Public Agency Membership - MRSC Rosters

By submitting a proposal, proposer agrees that all documents, reports, proposals, submittals, working papers, or other materials prepared by the Contractor pursuant to this proposal shall become the sole and exclusive property of the County, and the public domain, and not property of the Contractor. The

Contractor shall not copyright, or cause to be copyrighted, any portion of said items submitted to the

County because of this solicitation.

Only electronic submittal via the County's eProcurement Portal shall be accepted. No hard copies, emails or fax submittals are acceptable.

3.2. Submittal Format

Please use the following as a guideline to format your qualifications:

• Font Size: Please fonts no smaller than 11 points

• Format: In order for Pierce County to adequately compare and evaluate qualification objectively, each response to specific requests and criteria should be clearly labeled.

• Page Count: Maximum qualifications length should not excess 20 pages - NOT including title page, letter of interest (cover letter), table of contents, resumes and required forms.)

These requirements are in addition to any other requirements identified herein.

3.3. Procurement Documents & RFQ's Holder List

BIDDERS WHO REGISTER AND DOWNLOAD BID DOCUMENTS will be automatically added to the

FOLLOWER'S list in the County's eProcurement Portal. Notifications for bid updates, addendum and other bid information will be sent to all bidders who register on the Pierce County eProcurement Portal.

3.4. Procurement Questions

All questions must be submitted within the County's eProcurement Portal, under the Questions and Answer Section not later than 3:00 pm on Friday, November 13, 2026. Bidders must be registered in the eProcurement Portal software in order to submit questions, receive addenda, notifications and ultimately submit a proposal.

https://opengov.wistia.com/medias/vvpsufzgl0 https://mrscrosters.org/public-agencies/public-agencies-membership/ https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/piercecountywa

Proposals must be received by the Procurement & Contract Services and the Finance

Department before 1:00 pm on Friday, November 20, 2026. The proposer is responsible for submission of proposal before the deadline. The County shall not be responsible for late submittals.

3.5. Expected Term of Resulting Agreement

The initial contract period is anticipated to be for 30 months The County has the option of renewing for an additional one year after initial contract is executed. The actual schedule will be negotiated with the selected firm based on consultant and agency staff availability and finalized scope of work.

Value of Resulting Contract: NO VALUE

4. Evaluation and Award Process

An evaluation team will review the SOQ and evaluate all responses received based upon the criteria listed herein. The County may request clarifications or additional information, if needed.

A selection may be made based on the Firms and initial evaluation criteria alone or the firms determined to be most qualified through the initial evaluation phase may be interviewed and the final determination will also consider reference checks and interviews.

The County intends to select the Consultant who represents the most qualified team (or teams, as determined by the evaluation team) to Pierce County and begin the negotiation and award process based on the evaluated scores.

Selected Consultant will be invited to enter contract negotiations with the County. Should the

County and the selected consultant not reach a mutual agreement, the County will terminate negotiations and move to the next highest ranked consultant and proceed with negotiations. A

Consultant’s inability to agree to the terms of the County’s Professional Service Agreement

"Attachment A" may be a basis for the County to terminate negotiations and begin negotiating with one or more other Consultant.

Selected Consultant(s) may be asked to provide the following for negotiation

A. Per Employee Direct Labor Rates

B. Provide the most recent audit of the firm received from WSDOT or a State or Federal agency that can establish the overhead rate.

C. Subcontractors (if used) fully burdened, per-employee labor rates direct labor rates (if available). If subcontractors are on an ad hoc basis no rates needed.

The County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submitted SOQs, and to waive as informalities any irregularities, and to contract as the best interest of the County may require.

The County also may reject SOQs that are non-responsive or that are submitted by non-responsible firms

5. Evaluation

Phase 1

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Relevant Experience and

Qualifications

In a narrative, identify the team (to include working titles, degrees, certificates, and licenses), describe the roles and responsibility of each team member, and how each team member will contribute to the successful completion of the scope of work of the overall contract.

Describe the team’s relevant experience and capacity for providing the services being requested. Describe how team members meet or exceed the preferred experience being requested in this RFQ.

• Provide an organizational chart demonstrating the relationships and hierarchy of the team described above. Identify individuals by name, position, discipline, and contractor.

Include relevant contractor's licenses

(Architect, civil engineer, structural engineer, and electrical engineer). Identify key backup personnel.

• Resumes of the team members may be included as an appendix. Resumes are to be limited to one single-sided, letter-size page for each team

Points Based 40

(40% of Total) member. Resumes exceeding this limit will not be reviewed.

2. Project Approach Narrative

Describe the team’s general approach, methodology and goals for accomplishing the various services outlined in the Scope of

Services section for providing the requested services. Approach should include information on:

• General information for supporting the services at

Pierce County as outlined in the Scope of Services.

• Innovative offerings and

Service offered

• Communication Plan:

Describe the flow of information and project communications with team members, the County’s project manager, and various stakeholders.

• QC/QA: Explain the Quality

Control and Quality

Assurance program for the requested services.

Points Based 20

(20% of Total)

3. Capacity and Availability

The firm has the size, resources, and commitment to provide timely services based on the County’s needs. Please outline your team organization for this account.

Points Based 20

(20% of Total)

4. Accuracy and Completeness of the

Statement of Qualification (SOQ)

Statement of Qualification will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Formatting and layout.

• Spelling and grammatical accuracy.

• Coherent and logical flow of written responses.

• Completeness

Points Based 10

(10% of Total)

5. Past Performance

Include a list of, at a minimum, five

(5) recent contracts/projects in the last ten years, to include a point of contact, contact information

(phone and email), and brief description, for services relevant to the items listed in the Scope of

Services as performed by the team members. Only projects completed by team members of the project team will be considered.

Supplemental project information may be included as part of the appendix.

Points Based 10

(10% of Total)

Phase 2

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Interviews (if applicable)

Pierce County may interview the top ranked from the evaluation list. If interviews are conducted, rankings of the firms shall be determined by

Pierce County using the combined results of interviews and proposal submittals

Pass / Fail 100

(100% of Total)

6. RFQ General Terms and Condition

6.1. Pierce County expressly reserves the following rights

A. To waive any and/or all irregularities in the proposals submitted.

B. To reject any or all proposals or portions thereof.

C. To base awards with due regard to quality of services, experience, compliance with specifications, and other such factors as may be necessary in the circumstances.

D. To make the award to any vendor or combination of vendors whose proposal(s), in the opinion of the County, is in the best interest of the County.

Pierce County will not accept late proposals. Pierce County may return unopened any proposal or modification received after the hour and date specified.

6.2. Reimbursement

The County will not reimburse proposers for any costs involved in the preparation and submission of responses to this RFQ or in the preparation for and attendance at subsequent interviews.

6.3. Title VI Compliance

Pierce County, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to

2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of

Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises as defined at 49 CFR Part 26 will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

6.4. Cooperative Purchasing

The Washington State Interlocal Cooperation Act, Ch. 39.34 RCW, authorizes public agencies to cooperatively purchase goods and services if all parties agree. By responding to this RFQ, Consultants agree that other public agencies may purchase goods and services under this solicitation or contract at their own cost and without Pierce County incurring any financial or legal liability for such purchases.

Pierce County agrees to allow other public agencies to purchase goods and services under this solicitation or contract, provided that Pierce County is not held financially or legally liable for purchases and that any public agency purchasing under such solicitation or contract file a copy of this invitation and such contract in accordance with RCW 39.34.040.

6.5. Public Records and Proprietary Material

Proposals submitted under this Solicitation will be considered public documents and, with limited exceptions, will become public information and may be reviewed by appointment by anyone requesting to do so following the conclusion of the evaluation, negotiation, and award process. This process is concluded when a signed contract is completed between the Pierce County and the Proposer. If a firm considers any portion of its response to be protected under the law, the vendor shall clearly identify each such portion with words such as “CONFIDENTIAL,” “PROPRIETARY” or “TRADE SECRET” on each page for which the protection is sought. If a request is made for disclosure of such portion, Pierce

County will notify the vendor of the request.

6.6. Contract Compliance For Professional, Technical, Supply or Services

It is the policy of Pierce County to foster an environment that encourages economic growth and diversification, business development and retention, increases competition and reduces unemployment.

In support of that policy, Pierce County reaffirms its commitment to maximize opportunities in public contracting for all contractors including minority and women owned business enterprises.

Proposers are encouraged to utilize qualified, local businesses in Pierce County and Washington State where cost effectiveness is deemed competitive. In addition, Proposers are encouraged to subcontract with firms certified by the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises

(MWBE).

A. MWBE DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE

1. A directory of MWBE firms is published quarterly by the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE). Copies of the directory are available from the

State OMWBE (360-753-9693) or may be viewed at the Public Works Department, 2702 S

42nd St Suite 201, Tacoma 98409, and the Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Avenue

South, Tacoma, 98402. Contact the Contract Compliance Office for additional information at

(253) 798-7250.

7. Vendor Questionnaire

1. Proposal * Upload Proposal

*Response required