RFQ_-_9-15-2026.pdf

LEWIS COUNTY NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS FOR:

Advertisement—Wetland and Stream Services Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 2025 County Safety Program – Phase I (Fed. Aid Project No. HSIP-000S[750]) and

Phase II (Fed. Aid Project No. HSIP-000[752])

Lewis County solicits interest from consulting firms with expertise in Wetland and Stream Services. This agreement will be for approximately twelve months in duration with the option for Lewis County to extend it for additional time and money if necessary. Consultants will be considered for the following project.

Lewis County reserves the right to amend the terms of this “Request for Qualification” (RFQ) to circulate various addenda, or to withdraw the RFQ at any time, regardless of how much time and effort consultants have spent on their responses.

Lewis County is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned firms are encouraged to submit proposals.

Project Description

The work to be performed by the CONSULTANT consists of providing wetland and other waters delineations for two (2) federally funded projects in Lewis County, Washington. The 2025 County Safety Program – Phase I safety improvements will include installation/upgrades to guardrail and bridge rail. The 2025 County Safety Program – Phase II include safety improvements to the clear zone (slope flattening, installation/upgrades to barriers, culvert end treatments, shoulder widening, removal/modification of fixed objects, reduction of pavement edge drop offs, ditch improvements) and installation/upgrades to signage. While existing conditions reconnaissance, wetland and stream mitigation, and bank use plan services are not anticipated to be needed for these projects they are included below in the event they are. Due to the similarity in project requirements, Lewis County requests one Statement of Qualifications from CONSULTANTS that outlines qualifications that apply to both projects. The selected CONSULTANT will be expected to enter into a Local Agency A&E Professional Services Negotiated Hourly Rates Consultant Agreement for each project. The Scope of Services to be provided include separate Wetland and Stream Services packages for each site with the intent to advertise each project separately:

Scope of Work

A) Existing Conditions Reconnaissance - conduct reconnaissance-level investigation for the approximate location and potential extent of wetlands, streams, and fish and wildlife habitats. Investigation shall consist of an office review of existing documentation followed by a site investigation. Site investigations shall be in accordance with methodology specific to each critical area (wetlands, streams, and fish and wildlife habitats).

B) Wetland and Other Waters Delineations - delineate wetlands and jurisdictional drainages with the Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual:

Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region (2010), the Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Regional Plant List (2022), Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States (2018), the Munsell Soil Color Book (2017), National Ordinary High Water Mark Field Delineation Manual for River and Streams (2022), and the Washington State Department of Ecology’s (DOE) Determining the Ordinary High Water Mark for Shoreline Management Act Compliance in Washington State (2016), or the most current guidance;

rate wetlands using the Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington 2014 (2023 Update), or the most current guidance; assess who will regulate delineated wetlands and waters; and determine appropriate buffers of each wetland and jurisdictional drainage as per applicable sections of the Lewis County Code pursuant to Chapter 17.38 and/or appropriate City Code.

The boundaries of wetlands and OHW of jurisdictional drainages shall be flagged in the field, along with data plots, for survey and verification. A map shall be prepared depicting the delineated wetlands and jurisdictional drainages, along with data plots, on an aerial photo base map for use by the Environmental Planner and County Surveyors. Data plots shall be furnished in a timely manner upon request by the County.

In the event that there are properties within the Wetland and Other Waters Study Area where right-of-entry has been denied approximate boundaries of potential wetlands and jurisdictional drainages shall be depicted on the aforementioned map along with estimated wetland ratings or stream types to determine appropriate buffer widths. The map shall also depict all potential wetlands and jurisdictional drainages which lie adjacent to (up to 300 linear feet) and outside the boundaries of the Wetland and Other Waters Study Area along with estimated wetland ratings or stream types to determine appropriate buffer widths.

C) Wetland and Stream Mitigation - design wetland and/or stream mitigation plans as per applicable sections of the Lewis County Code, appropriate City Codes, and the DOE guidance document Selecting Wetland Mitigation Sites Using a Watershed Approach (2009).

D) Bank Use Plans – prepare a bank use plan for mitigation utilizing credits from a wetland mitigation bank as per the DOE Bank Use Plan – Using Credits from Wetland Mitigation Banks: Guidance to Applicants on Submittal Contents for Bank Use Plans (revised September 2022).

A schedule of proposed fieldwork shall be submitted within 1 week of Contract Execution and Wetland delineation reports shall be submitted within 6 weeks of Contract Execution.

Anticipated maximum total value of the contracts combined is: $48,000. While it was determined each project has a 0% FSBE goal for each Consultant Agreement, a voluntary SBE goal of ten percent of each Consultant Agreement has been established. At the sole option of Lewis County Public Works, the contract amount may be supplemented to future phases (additional PE, RW, CN).

Interested CONSULTANTS shall provide a statement of qualifications (SOQ)s, experience, and extent of involvement for the assigned personnel on similar projects. The proposal shall include the project name, description, and contact information for each project. The proposal must be limited to fifteen total single sided sheets/pages of text, graphs, photographs, resumes, etc. for the RFP package. Any additional information (cover letter, cover sheet, additional graphs, photographs, project information, etc.) more than maximum fifteen pages/sheets will not be forwarded to the County's review panel for evaluation.

Evaluation Criteria

Submittals will be evaluated and ranked for the following criteria:

1. Staffing expertise consistent with contract needs – 25%

2. Experience with similar projects and familiarity with WSDOT/FHWA Standards – 25%

3. Performance evaluations by Lewis County and other government agencies – 10%

4. Demonstrated ability to meet schedules/commitments by key staff personnel – 10%

5. Description of how the consultant will address the voluntary SBE goal amount of 10 percent. - 5%

6. Overall SOQ evaluation by the Lewis County selection team – 25%

Consultant SOQs will be evaluated by Lewis County’s review panel for accuracy, clarity, readability, and concise information along with consultant suggestions/comments for Lewis County’s included scope of work, PS&E timeline, environmental outline, and other potential project complications.

Interviews Following evaluation of the SOQs, the highest-ranking firms will be invited to participate in an interview process. Lewis County Public Works will schedule interviews with the project manager provided in the SOQ. Additional interview information shall be provided at the time of the invitation. The intent of the interviews is to help clarify and verify information provided in the SOQ, and to give the County’s selection committee an opportunity to learn more about the consulting firm’s available relevant experience and expertise.

Submittal

CONSULTANTS desiring consideration shall electronically submit a complete proposal packet for Wetland and Other Waters Services RFQ: 2025 County Safety Project Phase I, Fed. Aid HSIP-000S(750), and 2025 County Safety Project Phase II, Fed. Aid HSIP-000S(752), in OpenGov https://procurement.opengov.com/signup. SOQs are limited to fifteen (15) pages and must be submitted electronically (in OpenGov) no later than 2:00 PM October 14, 2026. Any questions regarding this project should be directed to Ann Weckback at 360-740-1440 or Ann.Weckback@lewiscountywa.gov .

Additional information regarding OpenGov Procurement is available at www.lewiscountywa.gov.

The following schedule has been established for the submission and evaluation of the SOQs and selection of the Consultant. These are tentative dates only and the County reserves the right to adjust these dates at its sole discretion:

First advertisement of RFQ: September 17, 2026 Second advertisement of RFQ: September 24, 2026 SOQs due: October 14, 2026 (2:00 PM Local Time) Short list for interviews: October 28, 2026 Interviews (Zoom or Teams): November 10, 2026

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information

Lewis County, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), commits to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability, in all of its programs and activities. This material can be made available in an alternate format by emailing Zelma Hammer at Zelma.hammer@lewiscountywa.gov or by calling collect 360-740- 1123.

Title VI Statement

Lewis County, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair 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.”

Dates of publication:

Lewis County’s Newspaper of Record “The Chronicle” 17-September-26 and 24- September-26

Seattle Journal of Commerce 17-September-26

Website Posting 17-September-26 through RFP submittal date:

Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises https://omwbe.wa.gov

Lewis County’s website https://lewiscountywa.gov