RFP_23_RFP_042_2023_09_26_15_33_40.docx

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

23-RFP-042

SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL ACTION PLAN

Effingham County 804 S Laurel Street Springfield, GA 31329

RELEASE DATE: September 26, 2023 DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: October 16, 2023 RESPONSE DEADLINE: October 30, 2023, 11:00 am

RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:

Request For Proposal #23-RFP-042 Title: Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/effinghamcounty

Effingham County

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

23-RFP-042

Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan Introduction Pre Bid Meeting Legal Notice Instructions to Vendors General Conditions Request for Proposal Special Conditions Scope of Work Vendor Questionnaire Evaluation Criteria

Attachments:

A - SAMPLE CONTRACT - RFP

B - Transportation Master Plan

INTRODUCTION

Summary This is an invitation to submit a proposal to supply Effingham County, Georgia for the professional services as specified herein. Sealed proposals will be received via the County's eProcurement Portal up to 11:00 am (Eastern Time) on Monday, October 30, 2023. Due to the fact that the proposals will be subject to an evaluation review, the details and particulars of the proposal documents will remain confidential until final award of the contract. Only the names of the companies who submit a proposal will be available.

Effingham County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and will not be bound to accept any proposal should Effingham County consider that the proposal would be contrary to the best interest of Effingham County. Effingham County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any and all proposals that are non-responsive or not responsible. Additionally, Effingham County Board of Commissioners has the right to waive any technicalities or informalities. Effingham County may issue change orders altering the original scope of work to address changes or unforeseen conditions necessary for the project completion.

Instructions for the preparation and submission of a proposal are contained in the request for proposals package. If you do not submit a proposal, please return the no-bid sheet and state the reason.

Background Effingham County is the sixth fastest growing County in Georgia. The growth has begun to place a substantial strain on the County roads, increasing congestion and causing safety concerns. Residents with short commutes to work or school are looking for alternate ways for safer travel as well as leisure uses.

Contact Information Alison Bruton Purchasing Agent 804 S Laurel St Springfield, GA 31329 Email: abruton@effinghamcounty.org Phone: (912) 754-2159 Ext: 4572 Department:

Purchasing Department Head:

Alison Bruton Purchasing Agent Timeline

Effingham County Admin Building 804 S Laurel St.

Springfield, GA 31329 *Zoom Meeting information available upon request*

PRE BID MEETING

Non-Mandatory Pre-Proposal Meeting There will be a pre-proposal meeting and site visit at 11:00 am (Eastern Time) on Thursday, October 12, 2023. The meeting will take place at Effingham County Admin Building 804 S Laurel St. Springfield, GA 31329 *Zoom Meeting information available upon request*.

All questions must be submitted through the County's eProcurement Portal. Questions are due Monday, October 16, 2023. No response will be given to any questions received after Monday, October 16, 2023.

The responses to all questions will be uploaded to the eProcurement Portal and additional information will be added in the form of an addendum which will be posted on the Effingham County eProcurement Portal by 5:00 pm (Eastern Time) on Friday, October 20, 2023.

The only official answer or position of Effingham County will be the one stated in writing.

LEGAL NOTICE

Effingham County, Georgia is seeking proposals from firms interested in 23-RFP-042 – Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan Sealed proposals are due by 11:00 am on Monday, October 30, 2023 and must submitted via the County's eProcurement Portal.

A copy of this Request for Proposal is available at Effingham County Purchasing Office, 804 S. Laurel Street, Springfield, GA 31329, or online via the County's eProcurement Portal- for additional information please submit your questions via the County's eProcurement Portal.

EFFINGHAM COUNTY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY/AND ALL BIDS AND TO WAIVE ALL FORMALITIES. "EFFINGHAM COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, M/F/H, ALL BIDDERS ARE TO BE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS".

INSTRUCTIONS TO VENDORS

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this document is to provide general and specific information for use in submitting a proposal to supply Effingham County with services as described herein. All proposals are governed by the Code of Effingham County, and the laws of the State of Georgia. Any contract and/or agreement and any addendums to it that result from this RFP shall be governed by the laws of Georgia, with venue in Effingham County.

HOW TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS:

All proposals shall be:

Submitted via the County's eProcurement Portal.

Please check the County’s eProcurement portal prior to submission for any addendum to the RFP.

PROPOSALS NOT RECEIVED BY THE TIME AND DATE SPECIFIED WILL NOT BE OPENED OR CONSIDERED.

HOW TO SUBMIT AN OBJECTION:

Objections from Vendors to this request for proposal and/or these specifications should be brought to the attention of the County Purchasing Agent either verbally at the pre-proposal meeting, or in writing at least two (2) days prior to pre-proposal meeting. The objections contemplated may pertain to form and/or substance of the request for proposal documents. Failure to object in accordance with the above procedure will constitute a waiver on the part of the business to protest this request for proposal.

ERRORS IN PROPOSALS:

Vendors or their authorized representatives are expected to fully inform themselves as to the conditions, requirements, and specifications before submitting proposals. Failure to do so will be at the Vendor’s own risk.

STANDARDS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF VENDORS FOR CONTRACT AWARD:

The County expressly reserves the right in its sole judgement, to accept or reject any or all proposals received as the result of this RFP with or without cause and to waive any technicalities or irregularities in proposals received whenever such rejection or waiver is in the best interest of the County. The County reserves the right to reject the offer of a Vendor who has previously failed to perform properly or complete on time contracts of a similar nature, or an offer from a Vendor whom investigation shows is not in a position to perform the contract. The County reserves the right to accept, reject, and/or negotiate any and all proposals or parts of proposals deemed by the Board to be in the best interest of citizens of Effingham County. The County may request re-proposals should it be deemed in its best interest to do so. Until such time as a contract is executed with successful proposers, the County may cancel all or any part of this RFP. The County reserves the right to lease and/or purchase more or less of each item or service at the unit price offered in the Vendor's system, unless the Vendor specifically and explicitly limits the response in this regard. The County reserves the right to negotiate with vendors regarding variations to the original proposal(s) that may be in the best interest of the County.

VENDOR:

Whenever the term "vendor" is used it shall encompass the "person," "business," "firm," or other party submitting a proposal to Effingham County in such capacity before a contract has been entered into between such party and the County. At times throughout this request for proposal the term “vendor” may be used interchangeably with the terms “contractor”, “proposer” and “bidder”.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS:

The Vendor shall obtain and maintain all licenses, permits, liability insurance, workman's compensation insurance and comply with any and all other standards or regulations required by Federal, State or County statute, ordinances and rules during the performance of any contract between the Vendor and the County. Any such requirement specifically set forth in any contract document between the Vendor and the County shall be supplementary to this section and not in substitution thereof.

COUNTY:

Whenever the term "County" or "Owner" is used it is to refer to the Effingham County Board of Commissioners.

DEBARRED FIRMS AND PENDING LITIGATION:

Any potential Vendor/firm listed on the Federal or State of Georgia Parties Listing (barred from doing business) will not be considered for contract award. Vendors shall disclose any record of pending criminal violations (indictment) and/or convictions, pending lawsuits, etc., and any actions that may be a conflict of interest occurring within the past five (5) years.

Proposals will not be accepted from any company, firm, person, party or parent subsidiary, against which Effingham County has an outstanding claim, or financial dispute relating to prior contract performance. If the County, at any time, discovers such a dispute during any point of evaluation, the proposal will not be considered further. Any Vendor/firm previously defaulting or terminating a contract with the County will not be considered.

Vendor acknowledges that in performing contract work for the County, Vendor shall not utilize any firms that have been a party to any of the above actions. If Vendor has engaged any firm to work on this contract or project that is later debarred, Vendor shall sever its relationship with the firm with respect to County contract.

** All Vendors are to read and complete the Vendors certification regarding debarment, suspension, ineligibility, and voluntary exclusion (Disclosure of Responsibility) included in the Vendor Questionnaire Section. Failure to do so may result in your proposal being rejected as non-responsive.

IMMIGRATION:

On 1 July 2009, the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (SB 529, Section 2) became effective. All employers, contractors and subcontractors entering into a contract or performing work must sign an affidavit that he/she has used the E-Verify System. E-Verify is a no-cost federal employment verification system to insure employment eligibility. Affidavits are enclosed in this solicitation. You may download M-274 Handbook for Employers at http://www.dol.state.ga.us/spotlight/employment/rules. You may go to http://www.uscis.gov to find the E-Verify information.

** All Vendors are to read and complete the E-Verify affidavit included in the Vendor Questionnaire Section. Failure to do so may result in your solicitation response being rejected as non-responsive.

PROTECTION OF RESIDENT WORKERS:

Effingham County Board of Commissioners actively supports the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) which includes provisions addressing employment eligibility, employment verification, and nondiscrimination. Under the INA, employers may hire only persons who may legally work in the United States (i.e., citizens and nationals of the U.S.) and aliens authorized to work in the U.S. The employer must verify the identity and employment eligibility of anyone to be hired, which includes completing the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9). The contractor shall establish appropriate procedures and controls so no services or products under the Contract Documents will be performed or manufactured by any worker who is not legally eligible to perform such services or employment.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

SPECIFICATIONS:

Any obvious error or omission in the specifications shall not inure to the benefit of the Vendor but shall put the Vendor on notice to inquire of or identify the same to the County.

GEORGIA OPEN RECORDS ACT:

The responses will become part of the County's official files without any obligation on the County's part. Ownership of all data, materials, and documentation prepared for and submitted to Effingham County in response to a solicitation, regardless of type, shall belong exclusively to Effingham County and will be considered a record prepared, maintained or received in the course of operations of public office or agency and is subject to public inspection in accordance with the Georgia Open Records Act. Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Section 50-18-070, et.Seq. unless otherwise provided by law. The Georgia Open Records Act is applicable to the records of all contractors and subcontractors under contract with the County. This applies to those specific contracts currently in effect and those which have been completed or closed up to three (3) years following completion.

GEORGIA TRADE SECRET ACT OF 1990:

In the event that a Vendor submits secret information to the County, the information must be clearly labeled as a "Trade Secret". The County will maintain the confidentiality of such trade secrets to the extent provided by law.

OFFERS TO BE FIRM:

The Vendor warrants that terms and conditions quoted in his offer will be firm for acceptance for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of proposal submittal. Fees quoted must also be firm for a ninety (90) day period.

COMPLETENESS:

All information required by the request for proposal must be completed and submitted to constitute a proper proposal. The County shall have sole discretion in evaluating qualifications and responses of Vendors. Vendor acknowledges that in performing a contract for the Board, Vendor shall not utilize any firms that have been a party to any of the actions listed in the DEBARRED FIRMS AND PENDING LITIGATION Section. If Vendor has engaged any firm to work on this contract or project that is later debarred, Vendor shall sever its relationship with that firm with respect to the Board’s contract.

MULTIPLE PROPOSALS:

No Vendor will be allowed to submit more than one offer. Any alternate proposals must be brought to the Purchasing Agent's attention during the Pre-proposal meeting if one is scheduled, or submitted in writing at least five (5) days preceding the date for submission of proposals.

PATENT IDEMNITY:

Except as otherwise provided, the successful Vendor agrees to indemnify Effingham County and its officers, agents and employees against liability.

QUALIFICATION OF BUSINESS (RESPONSIBLE VENDOR):

A responsible Vendor is defined as one who meets all requirements of the RFP. Effingham County has the right to require any or all Vendors to submit documentation of their ability to perform, provide or carry out the service as requested herein and to disqualify the proposal of any Vendor as being unresponsive or un-responsible whenever such Vendor cannot.

CERTIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION:

By submission of this proposal, the Vendor certifies, and in the case of a joint proposal each party thereto as to its own organization, that in connection with this procurement:

A. The prices in this proposal have been arrived at independently, without consultation, communication, or agreement, for the purpose of restricting competition, as to any matter relating to such prices with any other Vendor or with any competitor;

B. Unless otherwise required by law, the prices which have been quoted in this proposal have not been knowingly disclosed by the Vendor and will not knowingly be disclosed by the Vendor prior to opening, directly or indirectly to any other competitor, and;

C. No attempt has been made or will be made by the Vendor to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit a proposal for the purpose or restricting competition.

AWARD OF CONTRACT:

The contract, if awarded, will be awarded to the responsible Vendor whose proposal will be most advantageous to Effingham County, price and other factors considered. The Board of Commissioners will make the determination as to which proposal best serves the interests of Effingham County. Appeal of an award can only be made after the Board of Commissioners award a contract.

INSURANCE PROVISIONS:

The selected Vendor shall be required to procure and maintain for the duration of the contract insurance against claims for injuries to persons or damages to property which may arise from or in connection with the performance of the work hereunder by the Vendor, his agents, representatives, employees or subcontractors. The cost of such insurance shall be included in the Vendor's fee proposal. Contract work will not proceed unless Effingham County has in their possession, a current Certificate of Insurance. Effingham County invokes the defense of sovereign immunity. The County is not to be included as an additional insured on insurance contracts.

General Information that shall appear on a Certificate of Insurance:

· Name of Producer (contractor's insurance Broker/Agent).

· Companies affording coverage (there may be several).

· Name and address of the Insured (this should be the Company or Parent of the firm Effingham County is contracting with).

· A Summary of all current insurance for the insured (includes effective dates of coverage).

· A brief description of the operations to be performed, the specific job to be performed, or contract number.

· Certificate Holder (This is to always include Effingham County).

LIMITS OF INSURANCE:

Effective coverage shall have the following limits:

· Commercial General Liability: Provides protection against bodily injury and property damage claims arising from operations of a contractor or tenant. Minimum limits: $1,000,000 bodily injury and property damage per occurrence and annual aggregate.

· Worker's Compensation and Employer’s Liability: Provides statutory protection against bodily injury, sickness or disease sustained by employees of the contractor while performing within the scope of duties. Minimum limits: $500,000 for each accident, disease policy limit, and disease each employee and Statutory Worker’s Compensation limit.

· Business Automobile Liability: Coverage insures against liability claims arising out of the contractor’s use of automobiles. Minimum limit: $1,000,000 combined single limit per accident for bodily injury, property damage, and should be written on an “Any Auto” basis.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

· Claims-Made Coverage: The limits of liability shall remain the same as the occurrence basis, however, the Retroactive date shall be prior to or coincident with the date of any contract, and the Certificate of Insurance shall state the retroactive date and the coverage is claims-made.

· Extended Reporting Periods: The contractor shall provide the County with a notice of the election to initiate any Supplemental Extended Reporting Period and the reason(s) for invoking this option.

· Reporting Provisions: Any failure to comply with reporting provisions of the policies shall not affect coverage provided in relation to this invitation.

· Cancellation/Non-Renewal Notification: Each insurance policy supplied in response to this invitation shall be endorsed to state that it shall not be suspended, voided, or canceled, except after thirty (30) days prior to written notice by certified mail, return receipt, has been given to the County.

· Proof of Insurance: Effingham County shall be furnished with certificates of insurance and original endorsements affecting coverage required by this invitation. The certificates and endorsements are to be signed by a person authorized by the insurer to bind coverage on its behalf. All certificates of insurance are to be submitted prior to, and approved by, the County before services are rendered. The Vendor must ensure Certificates of Insurance are updated for the entire term of the Contract.

· Insurer Acceptability: Insurance is to be placed with an insurer having an A.M. Best's rating of A and a five (5) year average financial rating of not less than V. If an insurer does not qualify for averaging on a five year basis, the current total Best's rating will be used to evaluate insurer acceptability.

· Lapse in Coverage: A lapse in coverage shall constitute grounds for contract termination by Effingham County Board of Commissioners.

· Deductible and Self-Insured Retention: Any deductibles or self-insured retention must be declared to, and approved by, the County. At the option of the County, either: the insurer shall reduce or eliminate such deductibles or self-insured retention as related to the County, its officials, officers, employees, and volunteers; or the Vendor shall procure a bond guaranteeing payment of related suits, losses, claims and related investigation, claim administration and defense expenses.

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FOR SPECIFIC PROCUREMENT PROJECTS;

· Professional Liability: Insure errors or omission on behalf of architects, engineers, attorneys, medical professionals, and consultants. Minimum Limits: $1,000,000 per claim/occurrence. Coverage Requirement: If “claims made,” retroactive date must precede or coincide with the contract effective date or the date of the Notice to Proceed. The professional must state if “tail” coverage has been purchased and the duration of the coverage.

· Builder’s Risk: (for Construction or Installation Contracts) Covers against insured perils while in the course of construction. Minimum Limits: All-risk coverage equal 100% of contract value. Coverage requirements: Occupancy clause – permits Effingham County Board of Commissioners to use the facility prior to issuance of Notice of Substantial Completion.

INDEMNIFICATION:

The CONTRACTOR agrees to protect, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Effingham County, Georgia, its commissioners, officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all liability, damages, claims, suits, liens, and judgments, of whatever nature, including claims for contribution and/or indemnification, for injuries to or death of any person or persons, or damage to the property or other rights of any person or persons caused by the CONTRACTOR or its subcontractors. The CONTRACTOR'S obligation to protect, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless, as set forth herein above shall include, but not be limited to, any matter arising out of any actual or alleged infringement of any patent, trademark, copyright, or service mark, or any actual or alleged unfair competition, disparagement of product or service, or other business tort of any type whatsoever, or any actual or alleged violation of trade regulations. CONTRACTOR further agrees to investigate, handle, respond to, provide defense for, and to protect, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Effingham County, Georgia, at his sole expense, and agrees to bear all other costs and expenses related thereto, even if such claims, suits, etc., are groundless, false, or fraudulent, including any and all claims or liability for compensation under the Worker's Compensation Act arising out of injuries sustained by any employee of the CONTRACTOR or his subcontractors or anyone directly or indirectly employed by any of them. The CONTRACTOR'S obligation to indemnify Effingham County under this Section shall not be limited in any way by the agreed-upon contract price, or to the scope and amount of coverage provided by any insurance maintained by the CONTRACTOR.

INTERPRETING SPECIFICATION:

The specifications or scope of services contained herein are intended to be descriptive rather than restrictive. The County is soliciting a proposal to provide a complete product or service package which meets all requirements. Changes in the scope of services, specifications, or terms and conditions of the RFP will be made in writing by the County prior to the proposal opening or due date. Results of informal meetings between a potential Vendor and a County official or employee may not be used as a basis for deviations from the requirements contained in this solicitation.

SIGNED RESPONSE CONSIDERED AN OFFER:

The signed Response shall be considered an offer on the part of the Vendor, which offer shall be deemed accepted upon approval by the Effingham County Board of Commissioners, or their designee. In case of a default on the part of the Vendor after such acceptance, Effingham County may take such action as it deems appropriate, including legal action for damages or lack of required performance.

PAYMENT TO CONSULTANTS:

Questions regarding payment may be directed to the Effingham County Finance Department, at (912) 754-8057.

Effingham County is a tax-exempt entity. Every contractor, vendor, business or person under contract with Effingham County is required by Georgia law to pay State sales or use taxes for products purchased in Georgia or transported into Georgia and sold to Effingham County by contract. Please consult the State of Georgia, Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax Unit in Atlanta (404) 656-4065 for additional information.

VENDOR DEFAULT:

In case of Vendor default, the County will provide a letter of official notice of non-performance. If the issue(s) are not remedied 30 days from receipt of said notice, the County reserves the right to procure services from other sources.

RESTRICTIVE OR AMBIGUOUS SPECIFICATIONS OR REQUIREMENTS:

It is the responsibility of the prospective Proposer to review the entire request for proposal (RFP) packet and to notify the Purchasing Department if the specifications are formulated in a manner that would unnecessarily restrict competition. Any such protest or question regarding the specifications or bidding procedures must be received in the Purchasing Department not less than seventy-two (72) hours prior to the time set for proposal opening.

MERGERS:

If a selected firm is sold or merged with another investment organization, the County will consider the contract binding regardless of any name changes. If there is a conflict of interest, the County reserves the right to terminate said contract.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

The Effingham County Board of Commissioners is seeking a qualified vendor to provide professional services:

Effingham County is the sixth fastest growing County in Georgia. The growth has begun to place a substantial strain on the County roads, increasing congestion and causing safety concerns. Residents with short commutes to work or school are looking for alternate ways for safer travel as well as leisure uses. The purpose of this Request for Proposals is to create a Master Plan that will utilize crash data to develop a low-cost strategy for creating safer passage throughout the County.

ACCEPTANCE AND EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS:

The County shall evaluate all proposals submitted to the RFP. All technical requirements, unless otherwise specified, must be met by the Vendor or such proposal will be disqualified as being non-responsive. Proposals that are deemed to be incomplete as to substance and content may be returned without further consideration.

FEE PROPOSAL:

Provide a completed Fee Proposal.

PROPOSAL DEADLINE:

The response to the request for proposal must be received by the Effingham County Purchasing Office via the eProcurement Portal no later 11:00 am (Eastern Time) Monday, October 30, 2023. Any proposal received after the time and date stipulated will be rejected and returned to the Vendor. The County may, for good and sufficient reason, extend the response deadline, in which case all potential Vendors will receive an addendum setting forth the new date.

WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSAL:

Effingham County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to withdraw the RFP in whole or in part, at any time and for any reason. Submission of a proposal confers no rights upon the vendor nor obligates the Board of Commissioners in any manner. Effingham County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to award no agreement and to solicit additional offers at a later date.

Vendor proposal may be withdrawn via the County's eProcurement Portal before the time fixed for receipt of proposals 11:00 am on Monday, October 30, 2023.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF DOCUMENTS:

Upon receipt of a proposal by the County the proposal shall become the property of the County without compensation to the Vendor, for disposition or usage by the County at its discretion. Due to the fact that the proposals will be subject to review for accurate qualifications, only the respondent names who submit proposals to this RFP and the total bid price will be available publicly. The details and particulars of the proposal documents will remain confidential until final award of the contract.

MINIMUM CRITERIA USED TO DETERMINE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH PROPOSER:

The following criteria will be used, as a minimum, to determine the responsibility of each Proposer:

· Does the Proposer demonstrate an understanding of the County's needs and proposed approach to the project, and possess the ability, capacity, skill, and financial resources to provide the service?

· Can the Proposer take upon himself the responsibilities set forth in the RFP and the resultant contract and produce the required outcomes in a timely manner?

· Has the Proposer performed satisfactorily in previous contracts of similar size and scope; or if the Proposer has not performed a contract of similar size and scope, has it, and/or it's team members otherwise demonstrated its capability to perform the contract that the County seeks to establish through this RFP?

· Has the Proposer declared bankruptcy within the past 10 years?

EVALUATION CRITERIA

All submittals will be evaluated from the written responses to the requirements set forth in this request as described in the Evaluation Criteria Section of the document.

Evaluations will be made by a selection committee which could consist of project staff, elected officials and possibly other representatives designated by the owner. The selection committee will receive and review the proposals submitted in response to this request. Proposals will be evaluated against the above set of weighted criteria to determine those firms most qualified for this project.

FORMAT OF RESPONSES:

To be considered, Vendors must submit a complete response through the County's eProcurement Portal. Lengthy narratives are discouraged; presentations should be brief and concise and not include extraneous or unnecessarily elaborate promotional material.

COST TO PREPARE RESPONSES:

The County assumes no responsibility or obligation to the Vendors and will make no payment for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of the proposal.

SELECTION:

The County will select a firm which provides the most favorable combination of experience, qualifications, management and proven ability to produce deliverables “on time and within budget.”

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Responses to this RFP should demonstrate the proposing firm has qualifications and experience completing similar projects for local governments. A minimum of three similar projects should have been completed in the last 5 years. Heavy consideration will be given to the relevant experience and qualifications of the project manager and other team members.

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

Effingham County assumes no obligation in this general solicitation of Statement of Qualifications and all costs and expenses of responding to this RFP shall be borne by the interested firms or individuals. Firms must submit their Statement of Qualifications package that contains the following sections.

Letter of Commitment The Letter of Commitment should be addressed to:

The letter should identify the firm and contact person as well as other firms (if any) included on the team. The letter must identify the proposed project manager and other key staff and commit them to the contract if the team is selected. The letter must also state the Statement of Qualifications shall remain in effect and will not be withdrawn for 90 days from the due date.

Project Approach This project requires a specific expertise and experience to complete. This section should provide a general overview as to how the team has completed other similar projects and how the team plans to accomplish this project. A typical project scope should be included in this section.

Qualifications/Relevant Experience This section of the Statement of Qualifications should have a brief overview of the firm and any sub-consultants. It should also include a minimum of three similar projects completed in the last 5 years and a maximum of five similar project completed in the last 5 years. Please provide reference information with each project provided. This section should be no longer than 8 pages.

Key Staff Resumes for the proposed project manager and other key team members should be provided in this section. Resumes should be limited to one page with the exception of the project manager which can be two pages. An organizational chart for the team can be included in this section listing the assignments of each key staff member.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

STATEMENT OF DISCLOSURE:

All Vendors must provide a statement of disclosure (ATTACHMENT D) which will allow the County to evaluate possible conflicts of interest.

Interests of Public Officials.

The vendor warrants for itself and any subcontractor that no elected or appointed official or employee of Effingham County, Georgia, has any interest in their bid or the proceeds of any contract/agreement which may result thereof. In the event that an elected or appointed official or employee acquires any interest in any contract/agreement which may result from this bid, or the proceeds thereof, the vendor agrees to disclose such interest to the BOARD immediately by written notice. For breach or violation of this clause, the BOARD may annul any contract/agreement resulting from this bid without liability, terminate any contract/agreement resulting from this bid for default, or take other remedial measures. “Interest” as used herein means direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a county commissioner, official or employee as a result of a matter which is or which is expected to become the subject of an official action by or with the county, except for such actions which, by their terms and by the substance of their provisions, confer the opportunity and right to realize the accrual of similar benefits to all other persons and/or property similarly situated. The term “interest” shall not include any remote interest. For purposes of this bid, a county commissioner, official or employee shall be deemed to have an interest in the affairs of: (1) his or her family; (2) any business entity in which the county commissioner, official or employee is a member, officer, director, employee, or prospective employee; and (3) any business entity as to which the stock, legal ownership, or beneficial ownership of a county commissioner, official or employee is in excess of five percent of the total stock or total legal and beneficial ownership, or which is controlled or owned directly or indirectly by the county commissioner, official or employee. Remote interest as used herein means the interest of (1) a volunteer director, officer, or employee of a nonprofit corporation; (2) a holder of less than 5 percent of the legal or beneficial ownership of the total shares of a business; (3) any person in a representative capacity, such as a receiver, trustee, or administrator. Family as used herein means the spouse, parents, children, and siblings, related by blood, marriage, or adoption, of a county official or employee.

CONTRACT:

Upon receipt of the fully executed contract, the contractor shall be bound to deliver the stated services according to the terms and conditions of the contract and any addendums thereto. The County shall also be bound on the said terms and conditions to procure the services described and remit payment to the contractor when said services are completed. The successful contractor shall not commence work under this Request for Proposal until a written contract is awarded. If the successful contractor does commence any work or deliver items prior to receiving official notification, he does so at his own risk.

PERFORMANCE AND APPROVAL OF SUB-CONSULTANTS:

The Vendor will perform the work as an independent contractor and not as an agent or employee of the County, and will secure written permission from Effingham County before subcontracting any part of this service. The County must approve all sub-consultants providing services.

CHANGES:

In the event a contract is awarded, the County may, with prior Board approval, make changes at any time during the contract period within the general scope of the contract and its technical provisions. If any such change causes any increase or decrease in the Vendor’s cost of performing any part of the contract, an equitable adjustment shall be made in the contract prices, or in the time of performance, or in both. A written memorandum of such adjustment shall be made prior to any changes in contract pricing schedules.

TERMINATION OF CONTRACT:

Effingham County shall have the right to terminate any contract. The Proposer shall be paid for services rendered and not in question or dispute through the effective date of such termination. Further, provided a contract is awarded, if a Proposer shall fail to fulfill any of its obligations hereunder, the County may, by giving written notice to the Proposer at issue, terminate the agreement with said Proposer for such default. If this agreement is so terminated, the Proposer shall be paid only for work satisfactorily completed.

SCOPE OF WORK

Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan Overview Effingham County is soliciting proposals from qualified firm(s) to provide Engineering Design Consultant Services for the development of a Safe Streets and Roads for All Action (SS4A) Plan. The SS4A Action Plan will be in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines (https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A) and include the following Action Plan Components:

A. Safety Analysis B. Public Involvement C. Identification and analysis of underserved communities D. Assessment of current policies, guidelines and standards E. Identification and prioritization of projects and strategies Effingham County is the sixth fastest growing County in Georgia. The growth has begun to place a substantial strain on the County roads, increasing congestion and causing safety concerns. Residents with short commutes to work or school are looking for alternate ways for safer travel as well as leisure uses. The Safety Action Plan will analyze crash data to identify crash types, crash severity, high-risk factors and locations of fatalities and serious injury crashes, and specific safety needs of relevant road users. Additionally, the Plan will include an equity analysis to identify communities disproportionately impacted by vehicular crashes. This component will allow the County to review elements to improve transportation for all residents in regard to race, gender, income and vulnerable road users. Policies will be reviewed and updated as needed and a list of proposed projects and strategies will be developed and ranked in order of importance, with consideration of equity impacts.

The final Safety Action Plan deliverable, as well as meeting minutes and progress reports, will be posted on the County webpage to inform the public of the progress. By separating the conflicting modes of travel and developing low-cost strategies for creating safer passage throughout the County, the County expects to achieve zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries and improve the health and well-being of County users by 2030.

Stakeholders Committee Effingham County will create a Committee to help oversee the development and implementation of the Action Plan. The Consultant will be required to facilitate meetings with said Committee and residents throughout the project to receive their input. The Committee will include representatives from each locality in the County as well as members from interested partners. The Consultant will be responsible for compiling meeting minutes and progress reports which will be made available to the public via the Effingham County website.

Scope Tasks Task 1 – Project Management Work Plan

• Following the kick-off meeting, the Consultant shall produce a Work Plan and submit it to the County for review and approval within 15 days. The Work Plan shall detail project personnel, status coordination, schedule with deliverable deadlines, fee breakdown, quality control and assurance plan and project controls.

• The Consultant shall provide a monthly progress report and invoice to the Effingham County project manager no later than the 10th day of each month for work completed the month prior.

Task 2 – Safety Action Plan The Safety Action Plan will be in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation SS4A guidelines and include the following:

• Analysis of existing conditions and historical trends to provide a baseline level of crashes involving fatalities and serious injuries across unincorporated Effingham County. Analysis of locations and severity of crashes as well as contributing factors and types for all road users. Analysis of systemic and specific safety needs and geospatial identification of higher- risk locations.

• Public Involvement including community engagement and collaboration with stakeholders that allows for representation and feedback from all areas of the community for input into the Action Plan.

• Identification and analysis of underserved communities including both population characteristics and initial equity impact assessments of proposed projects and strategies.

• Assessment of current policies, guidelines and standards to identify opportunities and recommend revisions to improve how processes prioritize transportation safety.

• Identification and prioritization of a comprehensive list of projects and strategies to address the safety problems identified through previous analysis and focusing on a Safe System Approach. This should include infrastructure, behavioral and/or operational safety and time ranges (short, mid and long-term) for implementation as well as high level cost estimates.

• Prepare a Safety Action Plan including goals, strategies and a timeline for achieving zero fatalities and serious injuries. The plan will incorporate the results of items listed above and include a resolution for commitment by the Effingham County Board of Commissioners. The Plan must include a method to measure progress that will ensure ongoing transparency and allow for annual reporting.

Grant Schedule The Consultant will be required to follow the Action Plan Schedule as required by the Grant Agreement.

VENDOR QUESTIONNAIRE

Vendor proposal confirmation * The Vendor warrants that terms and conditions quoted in his offer will be firm for acceptance for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of proposal submittal. Fees quoted must also be firm for a ninety (90) day period.

Vendor further confirms:

By submission of this proposal, the Vendor certifies, and in the case of a joint proposal each party thereto as to its own organization, that in connection with this procurement:

The prices in this proposal have been arrived at independently, without consultation, communication, or agreement, for the purpose of restricting competition, as to any matter relating to such prices with any other Vendor or with any competitor;

Unless otherwise required by law, the prices which have been quoted in this proposal have not been knowingly disclosed by the Vendor and will not knowingly be disclosed by the Vendor prior to opening, directly or indirectly to any other competitor; and;

No attempt has been made or will be made by the Vendor to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit a proposal for the purpose or restricting competition.

☐ Please confirm *Response required Vendor Certification* Vendor certifies that he/she has carefully read the preceding list of instructions and all other data applicable hereto and made a part of this invitation; and, further certifies that the prices shown in his/her proposal are in accordance with all documents contained in this request for proposal package, and that any exception taken thereto may disqualify his/her proposal.

This is to certify that Vendor, have read the instructions to Vendor and agree to be bound by the provisions of the same.

☐ Please confirm *Response required Vendor Information * Company Name, Address, Email and Phone number Name and Title of Principal Proposing Company Contact Information:

Company Name:

Billing Address:

Telephone:

Service Address:

Telephone:

Representative Name:

Representative Contact Address, Telephone, E-Mail:

*Response required Proposer's Confirmation* It is agreed by the undersigned offeror that submission of this proposal represents the vendor's acceptance of all terms, conditions and requirements of specifications and, if awarded, the proposal will become part of the contract agreement between the parties.

☐ Please confirm *Response required Technical Proposal * Upload your Technical Proposal *Response required Proposal Cost * All Vendors are required to include an itemized proposal that includes unit pricing with their submittal on company letterhead. Please make this as detailed as possible.

*Response required Statement of Qualifications * Prepare and upload your SOQ to include the following:

Letter of Commitment The Letter of Commitment should be addressed to:

The letter should identify the firm and contact person as well as other firms (if any) included on the team. The letter must identify the proposed project manager and other key staff and commit them to the contract if the team is selected. The letter must also state the Statement of Qualifications shall remain in effect and will not be withdrawn for 90 days from the due date.

Project Approach This project requires a specific expertise and experience to complete. This section should provide a general overview as to how the team has completed other similar projects and how the team plans to accomplish this project. A typical project scope should be included in this section.

Qualifications/Relevant Experience This section of the Statement of Qualifications should have a brief overview of the firm and any sub-consultants. It should also include a summary of any similar projects completed by the firm/sub-consultants. Please provide reference information with each project provided. This section should be no longer than 8 pages.

Key Staff Resumes for the proposed project manager and other key team members should be provided in this section. Resumes should be limited to one page with the exception of the project manager which can be two pages. An organizational chart for the team can be included in this section listing the assignments of each key staff member.

*Response required Exceptions NOTE: If Commodity(s) and/or Service proposed in quote is in ANYWAY different from that contained in this proposal, the Bidder is responsible for clearly identifying all such differences in the space below. Otherwise, it will be assumed that the Bidder’s offer is in total compliance with all aspects of the proposal. This information should also be clearly stated in your uploaded technical proposal.

PLEASE LIST If there are any differences between your offer and the County’s proposal:

Drug Free Workplace Certification * Bidder certifies that the provisions of Code Sections 50-24-1 through 50-24-6 of the Official Code to Georgia Annotated, related to the Drug Free Workplace have been complied with full.

1. A drug-free workplace will be provided for the employees during the performance of the contract; and;

2. Each Sub-Contractor under the direction of the Contractor shall secure the following written certification:

(Contractor) certifies to Effingham County that a drug-free workplace will be provided for the employees during the performance of this contract known as 23-RFP-042 -- Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan pursuant to paragraph (7) of subsection (B) of Code Section 50-24-3. Also, the undersigned further certifies that he/she will not engage in the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance or marijuana during the performance of the contract.

☐ Please confirm *Response required Promise of Non-Discrimination * In consideration of the privilege to Bid on the following Effingham County Procurement titled 23-RFP-042 -- Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan, Bidder hereby consent, covenant, and agree as follows:

A. No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefit of, or otherwise discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin or gender in connection with the Bid submitted to Effingham County or the performance of the contract resulting there from;

B. That it is and shall be the policy of this Company to provide equal opportunity to all business persons seeking to contract or otherwise interested with the Company, including those companies owned and controlled by racial minorities and women; and C. That the promises of non-discrimination as made and set forth herein shall be continuing throughout the duration of this contract with Effingham County.

D. That the promises of non-discrimination as made and set forth herein shall be and are hereby deemed to be made part of an incorporated by reference in the contract which this Company may be awarded;

E. That the failure of this Company to satisfactorily discharge any of the promises of non-discrimination as made and set forth above may constitute a material breach of contract entitling the County to declare the contract in default and to exercise appropriate remedies including but not limited to termination of the contract.

☐ Please confirm *Response required

DISCLOSURE OF RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT*

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· Disclosure_of_Responsibilit...

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CONTRACTOR AFFIDAVIT AND AGREEMENT *

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