Request for Qualifications - Owners Advisor - Chowan River Dock Project (1).pdf

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Owner’s Advisor for Chowan River Dock Project

Issued: October 1, 2026 Responses Due: October 30, 2026

Notice of Advertisement

County of Hertford, North Carolina Is Soliciting Statements of Qualifications for

Owner’s Representative Services For Chowan River Dock project

Statements of Qualification will be received by mail until 4:00 PM (local time) on October 30, 2026 at the Hertford County Government Center, Attn: William Shanahan, Jr., County Manager, 115 Justice Drive, Winton, North Carolina, 27986.

The scope of work in this project includes assisting the County of Hertford (“County”) as an Owner’s Advisor in the design and construction of the Chowan River Dock Project.

Services may include advising and assisting the County in developing the project criteria as part of the public procurement phase, performing design administration services, reviewing equipment and material specifications, assisting in the administration of the construction phase, reviewing project costs and project schedules, and other applicable support functions and services. This is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Do not submit total price information nor work product with your submittal package.

Firms must be licensed in the State of North Carolina, as set forth under Chapter 89C of the North Carolina General Statutes. The firm’s License number shall be designated in the State of Qualifications.

Additional information regarding the RFQ can be found on the County’s website.

The County reserves the right to reject any or all submittals, to waive technicalities and to make such selection deemed in its best interest. With limited response, the County reserves the right to extend the solicitation opening date as appropriate in order to assure a competitive procurement process.

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Owner’s Advisor for Chowan River Dock Project

I. Submittal Deadline

Statement of Qualifications submittals (“SOQs” or “Responses”) for the services specified in this RFQ will be received by the County of Hertford (the “County”) until 4:00 PM on October 30, 2026, 2026 at the specified location listed below.

Responses received by the correct time shall be considered. Responses received after the due date and time will not be considered.

All SOQ submittals shall be Send tracking number to:

mailed to:

County of Hertford william.shanahan@hertfordcountync.gov Attn: William Shanahan, Jr., County Manager Hertford County Government Center 115 Justice Drive Winton, NC 27986

In the interest of cost-savings, consistency of the submittals and more efficient use of time by the pre-selection committee, the qualifications information package should not include any notebooks, binders, tabs, clips, etc. The format should be 8-1/2” x 11” pages.

Submit one (1) original and five (5) copies in printed form and an electronic copy in a ZIP file via email to william.shanahan@hertfordcountync.gov. If the original and give copies in printed form are mailed to the County, the email containing the electronic ZIP file copy must also contain the tracking number for the mailed envelope. Responses must be submitted in an envelope labeled Chowan River Dock Project Owner’s Advisor Statement of Qualifications along with the submitter’s name and address clearly indicated on the envelope. Instructions for preparing the SOQ are provided herein.

Electronic (email) or facsimile will not be accepted.

Deadline for Questions: 5:00 PM on October 20, 2026.

All questions and clarifications regarding the scope of services or other items related to this RFQ must be submitted in writing by e-mail to william.shanahan@hertfordcountync.gov no later than the due date listed above.

Selection criteria are outlined in this document. The County reserves the right to reject any or all submittals, to waive technicalities and to make such selection deemed in its best interest. With limited response, the County reserves the right mailto:william.shanahan@hertfordcountync.gov to extend the solicitation period as appropriate in order to assure a competitive procurement process.

Responses received after the required deadline will not be accepted. Responses will be discussed at a subsequent meeting of the County Board of Commissioners.

The County Board of Commissioners will score the Responses in accordance with the criteria set forth in greater detail below and select the best qualified firm to negotiate a contract with. The County reserves the right to approve responses, deny responses, negotiate responses, or re-advertise for additional responses for the Project if deemed necessary by the County Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to interview any or all applicants to help aid in determining the best qualified firm.

II. General

Pursuant to N.C. General Statutes § 143-64.31, et seq., the County is seeking SOQs from qualified firms interested in performing Owner Advisor services to the County in connection with the Chowan River Dock Project. The intent of this RFQ is to select and contract with an engineering firm by qualifications-based selection to act as the Owner’s Advisor (“OA”) in connection with the design and construction of a new commercial dock along the Chowan River. In order to offer OA services, the proposing firms must be properly licensed to provide engineering services in the State of North Carolina. More information on the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors maybe found at https://www.ncbels.org/.

The County of Hertford, with a population of over 21,000, is situated along the Chowan River in the northeastern part of North Carolina. Partially bordering the Virginia state line, the County’s seat is located in Winton, North Carolina. In an effort to promote economic development, support local industry, and improve commercial access to waterfront areas, the County is planning to design and construct a publicly-owned industrial dock along the Chowan River and a public road capable of supporting industrial loads leading to the dock (the “Project”). The dock will be located off of River Road. When complete, the site is expected to include a dock, barge, one or more maritime cranes, utilities, and new public access road.

On March 12, 2025, the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $51,000,000 from the Stabilization and Inflation Reserve in Section 2.2(q) of S.L. 2022-74 to the N.C.

Department of Commerce to be used for the Project as follows: (i) forty million dollars ($40,000,000) for reimbursement for costs incurred in permitting, engineering, designing, and constructing the dock, and (ii) eleven million dollars ($11,000,000) for constructing a public road to the dock. See Section 4.4.(a) of S.L. 2025-92.

The OA should act as an extension of the County’s staff. The OA must be prepared to assist the County in developing a detailed Project Criteria designed specifically to meet the County’s needs and to manage project risk. These services may include criteria development, design administration, review of equipment and material specifications, review of project costs, review of project schedules, commissioning and other applicable https://www.ncbels.org/ support functions and services. The OA must work with the County to customize services to most effectively match the project’s requirements and the County’s needs, allowing the scope of work to be tailored to provide services that are necessary to supplement the County’s existing project staff’s availability. The OA shall have thorough knowledge and expertise with public infrastructure, marine/waterfront facilities, docks, maritime cranes, industrial access improvements, heavy civil work, roadway construction, or similar commercial/industrial site development.

III. Schedule

Description Deadline

RFQ Posted October1, 2026

Questions Due October 20, 2026

RFQ Response Due October 30, 2026

RFQ Responses Reviewed November 1st-30th

Interviews (If Necessary) TBD

Selection Announced No later than December 15. 2026

IV. Anticipated Project Budget

The anticipated total project budget (permitting, design, engineering, construction, and administration) for the Project is $40,000,000 for the dock and $11,000,000 for the public road.

V. Submittal Requirements

a. Method of Submission:

In the interest of cost- savings, consistency of the submittals and more efficient use of time by the pre- selection committee, the qualifications information package should not include any notebooks, binders, tabs, clips, etc. The format should be 8-1/2” x 11” pages.

b. Response Submittal Requirements:

Please provide the following information in the sequence of the following major headings described below:

i. Cover Letter: Briefly introduce your firm (the “Respondent Firm”), local office, principal in charge, the name of your OA Representative and why they were chosen for this Project, the name and title of the individual with contract signature authority to enter into an agreement with the County, and contact information for any follow-up questions from the County regarding the statement of qualifications.

The cover letter shall also expressly certify and represent that (i) the Respondent Firm and all proposed team members are not currently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this Project by any State or Federal department or agency and (ii) the information contained in the Respondent Firm’s SOQ package, including all documents, delivered or to be delivered to the County, are true, accurate, and complete and that the Respondent Firm’s SOQ package includes all information necessary to ensure that the statements therein do not in whole or in part mislead the County as to any material facts.

In the event Respondent Firm’s debarment, suspension, eligibility or exclusion status changes after the submission of the SOQ package, Respondent Firm shall immediately notify the County of the change and the reasons for the change.

ii. Statement of Qualifications: Provide a statement of qualifications setting forth the following information:

1. Respondent’s Background: Provide full and truthful answers to the Respondent’s Background Questionnaire utilizing the form included with this RFQ as Attachment 1.

2. Relevant Experience: Identify a minimum of six (6) representative projects within the last 10 years, of which at least (i) three (3) involved either dock or marine/waterfront projects and (ii) three (3) involved strictly OA services (including as an owner’s representative, a project advisor, or a construction administrator) without any formal design responsibilities. Respondent Firms are encouraged to prioritize public infrastructure, marine/waterfront facilities, docks, industrial access improvements, heavy civil work, roadway construction, or similar commercial/industrial site development projects.

Respondent Firm shall include the following information for each project:

a. Project owner’s name;

b. Name, address, telephone number, and email address for Owner’s point of contact for project;

c. Title and description of the project;

d. Location of the project;

e. Description of the services Respondent Firm provided;

f. Whether any claims or litigation involving the design or construction of the project are pending and, if so, a compete explanation;

g. The contract time for the project as bid, the completion dates for the project, the actual time to complete, and an explanation for any time overruns;

h. The total bid amount for the project, the project’s final cost, and an explanation for any costs overruns, including change orders.

Respondents should also include the approximate number of such public projects they have worked on in the capacities identified above.

The County reserves the right if, in its judgment, the six (6) projects submitted under this section are not representative of the overall history of the Respondent’s performance over the last ten (10) years to require the Respondent to submit relevant information for up to two (2) additional projects over the last ten (10) years.

3. Project Team: Provide a detailed organization chart that presents an adequately staffed team to be dedicated to this Project. This should include the OA Representative, engineer(s), and other supporting staff to be used in completion of the work. Respondent Firm shall provide the following information for each person identified:

a. Resume (2 page maximum) listing name, qualifications, background for the candidate, and any professional license or certification held. Include names and addresses of companies who have employed him/her during the last 10 years;

b. Ownership interest in the Respondent Firm, if any;

c. Professional, relevant qualifications for up to five (5) projects, including the projects listed under the “Relevant Experience” sections of the response, in which the individual(s) had a significant role;

d. Office location and number of year’s employee has worked with their current firm;

e. Current work load and public projects awarded;

f. Proximity to and familiarity with the area where the Project is to be located;

g. Design administration capabilities;

h. Construction administration capabilities;

i. The specific experience the proposed OA Representative has in performing similar services for or in connection with related or similar projects;

j. Sub-consultants to be utilized in the execution of the Project must be clearly identified within the organizational chart. Provide resumes and contact information for any proposed sub-consultants. Resumes shall be a maximum of two (2) pages and shall include relevant qualifications, relevant project experience (up to three (3) projects for each sub-consultant proposed as part of the Project team), professional licenses and registrations, and present and anticipated workload. Projects listed shall demonstrate prior successful teaming with the Respondent Firm.

4. Reputation of Firm. Provide a record of successfully completed projects without major legal or technical problems in the ten (10) years. Listed projects should identify whether the Respondent Firm was performing OA services, design services, construction administration services, or a combination of the three. State whether the Respondent Firm has been sued or had a claim filed against it for (i) failure to properly perform its OA services, (ii) defective design or errors and omissions, (ii) failure to properly perform construction contract administration services, or (iii) failure to pay subconsultants in the last five (5) years. If the answer is “yes’, please provide details of such suit or claim and the resolution of the matter.

VI. Selection Process

a. Maintaining the integrity of the RFQ process is of paramount importance for the County. To this end, do not contact the County Board of Commissioners, the County Manager, or any member of the County staff regarding the subject matter of this RFQ until a selection is made, other than the County’s designated contact person identified in the introduction to this RFQ. Failure to abide by this requirement shall be grounds for disqualification from this selection process.

b. The County will establish a pre-selection committee to review and evaluate the SOQs. The pre-selection committee will evaluate the SOQs independently in accordance with the published evaluation criteria. The County reserves the right to conduct interviews with a shortlist of selected Respondent Firms (“Short-Listed Respondent Firms”).

c. At its sole discretion, the County may ask written questions of Respondent Firms, seek written clarification, and conduct discussions with or interviews of Respondent Firms on their SOQs.

d. The County will provide written notification to all Short Listed Respondent Firms of the selection at the conclusion of the committee review and evaluation.

e. At the County’s discretion, it will negotiate with the best qualified Respondent Firm.

The “best qualified” Respondent Firm is the Respondent Firm that the County determines achieves the apparent best overall ranking. If the County is unable to execute a contract with the Respondent Firm, negotiations with the best qualified Respondent Firm may be terminated in writing, and the County may proceed to negotiate with the next best qualified Respondent Firm based on overall rankings.

The County may continue in accordance with this procedure until a contract agreement is reached or the selection process is terminated. Negotiations are at the County’s sole discretion.

f. In the evaluation and ranking of Respondent Firms, the County will consider the information submitted in each Respondent Firm’s SOQ as well as any meetings with respect to the evaluation criteria set forth in the RFQ.

g. The initial evaluation criteria/factors and relative weights listed below will be used to recommend selection of the best qualified Respondent Firm or for the purpose of selecting Short-Listed Respondent Firms. The County may choose to award without engaging in interview discussions.

SOQ Criteria Weight

Relevant Project Experience -- Experience serving as an owner’s advisor, owner’s representative, project advisor, or construction administrator for public projects;

--Experience with design-build, preferably involving public infrastructure, marine/waterfront facilities, docks, industrial access improvements, heavy civil work, roadway construction, or similar commercial/industrial site development;

--Experience with dock, waterfront, shoreline, utility, roadway, access, grading, erosion control, or heavy civil work;

--Experience with permitting and regulatory coordination for infrastructure projects, including environmental and transportation-related approvals where applicable;

Project Team and Personnel --Adequate staff and proposed team for the project;

--Current workload and public projects awarded;

--Proximity to and familiarity with the area where the project is located;

--Design administration capabilities;

--Construction administration capabilities;

OA Services Capabilities --Experience reviewing design submittals, construction schedules, RFIs, change order requests, payment applications, field reports, testing results, and closeout documentation;

--Ability to attend and represent Owner at project meetings, track action items, and keep the County informed on the status of the Project;

--Demonstrated ability to review and monitor project schedules, including critical path issues, milestone tracking, delay risks, and recovery plans;

--Ability to advise the County on cost reasonableness and potential financial exposure;

--Capacity to provide concise written reports to owner staff on schedule, budget, risks, pending decisions, claims/issues, and recommended next steps;

Reputation of Firm --Successful completion of projects of similar size, scope, and complexity;

--Demonstrated ability to evaluate whether design and construction work complies with contract documents, permits, applicable standards, and the owner’s project objectives;

--Experience coordinating with design professionals, inspectors, testing firms, regulatory authorities, contractors, and owner staff;

--Familiarity with quality control/quality assurance procedures for civil infrastructure and commercial construction;

--Disclosure of any litigation, arbitration, claims, defaults, terminations, bankruptcies, or conflicts relevant to the firm’s qualifications;

Public Owner and Local Government Experience --Prior work for counties, municipalities, or other public entities;

--Familiarity with North Carolina local government decision-making;

VII. General Conditions and Requirements

a. E-Verify. E-Verify is the federal program operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies, or any successor or equivalent program, used to verify the work authorization of newly hired employees pursuant to federal law. The Respondent Firm that is selected by the County and with whom the County successfully negotiates a contract shall be required to ensure that if Respondent or anyone performing work under the contract with the County: (i) uses E-Verify if required to do so; and (ii) otherwise complies with applicable law.

b. Proof of Insurance. The Respondent Firm that is selected by the County and with whom the County successfully negotiates a contract shall be required to provide proof of insurance with an original insurance certification naming the County as additional insured if selected.

VIII. Minimum Insurance Requirements

The Respondent Firm that is selected by the County and with whom the County successfully negotiates a contract shall be required to procure and maintain the following minimum insurance requirements with insurers authorized to do business in North Carolina and rated A-VII or better by A.M. Best:

a. Workers Compensation

Statutory limits covering all employees, including Employer’s Liability with limits of:

$100,000 Each Accident $100,000 Disease - Each Employee $500,000 Disease - Policy Limit

Coverage must include:

i. Coverage for all states in which operations are conducted.

ii. Policy must be endorsed to provide a 30-day notice of cancellation or substantial change to County.

b. Commercial General Liability Insurance

Occurrence form including premises and operations coverage, products and completed operations coverage, coverage for independent contractors, personal injury coverage and blanket contractual liability.

$2,000,000 Bodily Injury/Property Damage Liability $2,000,000 Personal Injury Liability $4,000,000 General Aggregate Limit $4,000,000 Products/Completed Operations Aggregate Limit $5,000 Medical Expense Limit

Coverage must include:

i. Policy to be endorsed to provide policy limits “per project.”

ii. Policy must name County as an additional insured as its interests may appear.

iii. Policy must be endorsed to provide a 30-day notice of cancellation or substantial change to County.

c. Commercial Automobile Liability Insurance

$2,000,000 Combined Single Limit Per Occurrence - Any Auto (owned, non-owned, and hired vehicles)

Coverage must include:

i. Policy must name County as an additional insured as its interests may appear.

ii. Policy must be endorsed to provide a 30-day notice of cancellation or substantial change to County.

d. Professional Liability Insurance

Errors and Omissions Professional Liability Insurance having minimum limits of $2,000,000 per claim and $2,000,000 in the aggregate.

The Respondent Firm that is selected by the County and with whom the County successfully negotiates a contract shall be required to provide evidence of continuation or renewal of the Professional Liability insurance for a period of three (3) years following termination or completion of the contract for design and construction contract administration services.

e. Additional Insurance Requirements

i. The Commercial General Liability policy shall be endorsed, specifically or generally, to include the following as Additional Insured:

COUNTY OF HERTFORD, ITS OFFICERS, AGENTS AND

EMPLOYEES ARE INCLUDED AS ADDITIONAL INSURED WITH

RESPECT TO THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL LIABILITY POLICY.

Additional Insured status for Completed Operations shall extend for a period of not less than three (3) years from the date of final payment.

ii. The Commercial General Liability and Umbrella Excess Liability policies shall cover the contractual liability assumed by Respondent Firm under its respective Project contract. The Commercial General and Umbrella Excess Liability policies shall include endorsements naming the County and their officers, members, agents and employees, as additional insureds. The policies of the Respondent Firm shall be primary and non-contributing with any insurance carried by County.

iii. The Commercial General Liability Insurance, Commercial Automobile Liability Insurance, and Commercial Umbrella Excess Liability Insurance shall provide coverage for the Respondent Firm and its representatives who may be engaged in performing any of the work, services or activities in connection with the Project.

iv. Before commencement of any work or services, the Respondent Firm that is selected by the County and with whom the County successfully negotiates a contract shall be required to provide a Certificate of

Insurance in satisfactory form as evidence of the insurances required above.

v. The Respondent Firm that is selected by the County and with whom the County successfully negotiates a contract shall have no right of recovery or subrogation against the County (including its officers, agents and employees).

vi. It is the intention of the parties that the insurance policies afforded by the Respondent Firm that is selected by the County and with whom the County successfully negotiates a contract shall protect both parties and be primary and non-contributory coverage for any and all losses covered by the above-described insurance.

vii. The County shall have no liability with respect to the personal property of the Respondent Firm that is selected by the County and with whom the County successfully negotiates a contract whether insured or not insured.

Any deductible or self-insured retention is the sole responsibility of the Respondent Firm that is selected by the County and with whom the County successfully negotiates a contract.

viii. Notwithstanding the notification requirements of the Insurer, the Respondent Firm that is selected by the County and with whom the County successfully negotiates a contract will be required to notify William Shanahan, Jr., County Manager, within two (2) days of the cancellation or substantive change of any insurance policy set out herein.

RESPONDENT’S BACKGROUND QUESTIONNAIRE

1. PASS/FAIL ELEMENTS

Failure of Respondent to meet the requirements of any of the pass/fail elements listed below will result in a determination of “Not qualified for this solicitation” and the Respondent will be excluded from further participation in this solicitation.

a. Does Respondent possess a valid Firm license issued by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (“NCBELS”)?

YES NO

If Yes, provide the Respondent’s Firm license number and a list of all persons employed by the Respondent possessing a valid Professional Engineer license issued by NCBELS with their license number.

b. Has the Respondent or any of its Officers (including any experience and time while employed by another firm) been convicted of criminal conduct or been found in violation of any federal, state, or local statute, regulation, or court order concerning antitrust, public contracting, or prevailing wages over the past 10 years?

YES NO

c. Has the Respondent or any of its Officers (including any experience and time while employed by another firm), Parent, Affiliates, or Subsidiaries had a judgment entered for contract default or been barred from bidding on public contracts over the last 10 years?

YES NO

2. GENERAL BACKGROUND OF RESPONDENT

The intent of this section is to understand how the various entities that comprise the Respondent will function together. If Respondent is a Joint Venture, provide requested information for all entities of the Joint Venture.

a. Respondent’s Name:

b. Current Name, address, and contact information:

i. Full Name of Respondent:

Mailing Address:

City:

State: __________________________ Zip:____________________________

Business Location Address:

City:

State: __________________________ Zip:____________________________

Principal Office Address:

City:

State: __________________________ Zip:____________________________

Local Office Address:

City:

State: __________________________ Zip:____________________________

ii. Respondent is: _____Sole Proprietor _____ Corporation.

_____ Partnership _____ LLC

_____ Joint Venture

c. Has Respondent operated under the current name for the last 10 years?

YES NO

If not, attach a complete explanation for operating under a different name.

List below each previous name or address, if any used in the last 10 years. Use attachments as needed.

i. Previous Name:

Mailing Address:

City:

State: __________________________ Zip:____________________________

Business Location Address:

City:

State: __________________________ Zip:____________________________

Contact Person:

Telephone:

ii. Company was: _____Sole Proprietor _____ Corporation.

_____ Partnership _____ LLC

_____ Joint Venture

d. Other Current Officers and length of time with the Respondent*:

Name Title Years

* Indicate those authorized to sign contracts on behalf of the Respondent.

e. Name, address, and telephone number of Parent and each Subsidiary and Affiliate of the Respondent (use attachments as needed).

i. Business Name:

Mailing Address:

City:

State: __________________________ Zip:____________________________

Business Location Address:

City:

State: __________________________ Zip:____________________________

Contact Person:

Telephone:

ii. Company is: _____Sole Proprietor _____ Corporation.

_____ Partnership _____ LLC

_____ Joint Venture

f. Bankruptcies: Has the Respondent, its Parent, or any of its Subsidiaries ever had a bankruptcy petition filed in its name, voluntarily or involuntarily within the last 10 years?

YES NO (If YES, list number of bankruptcies:

g. Loans: Has Respondent, its Parent, or any of its Subsidiaries defaulted on any loan agreement or financing with any bank, financial institution, or entity within the last 10 years?

YES NO (If YES, list number of default loans:

h. Has the Respondent, its Parent, or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries ever failed to complete a project for any reason?

YES NO

i. Has the Respondent, its Parent, or any of its Subsidiaries been involved in any design- or construction-related lawsuit (other than labor or personal injury litigation) in the last 10 years?

YES NO