RFQ Mill Creek Road Archaeological Services.pdf

The Walla Walla County Department of Public Works solicits interest from consultants who wish to be evaluated and considered to provide Cultural Monitoring / Archaeological Services for the County’s Mill Creek Road MP 6.5 to MP 8.0 project. The agreement, under the terms of a “Negotiated Hourly Rates” Agreement, will be for approximately one (1) year in duration with the option for Walla Walla County to extend it for additional time and money if necessary.

The Walla Walla County Department of Public Works reserves the right to amend terms of this “Request for Qualifications” (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.

Project Description:

The federally funded Mill Creek Road MP 6.5 to MP 8.0 project is located on Mill Creek Road in Walla Walla County, Washington, between the intersections of Blue Creek Road and Scenic Loop Road, in Sections 25 and 36 of Township 7 North, Range 37 East. The County proposes to reconstruct and widen the roadway from the current 10-foot travel lanes with narrow gravel shoulders to 11-foot travel lanes and 5-foot paved shoulders, with 8-foot sloped gravel shoulders. Safety improvements such as guideposts will be installed, as well as drainage improvements which includes new drainage ditches with check dams for infiltration, new roadway and driveway culverts, and a swale will be installed to improve stormwater drainage.

Walla Walla County intends to select an archaeological consultant who specializes in cultural resources. The archaeological firm must have a strong ability to provide complete archaeological services, have the ability to provide field exploration services through their firm or subcontractor, perform archaeological surveys for roads, bridges, walls, cuts, fills, slides, monitor sites, evaluate potential constructability problems, and develop contract specifications as appropriate to meet project needs.

Scope of Work:

The Consultant will provide archaeological monitoring and reporting services in accordance with the project Cultural Resource Survey Report and state/federal standards. At the request of the County, the Consultant may provide the Contracting Agency with an Archaeological Monitoring Plan for the construction of the project. The Consultant will obtain an archaeological excavation permit for the County prior to construction of the project. The consultant will provide on-site monitoring for the ground disturbing activities of the project, anticipated to be approximately 30 working days of disturbance, and prepare an archaeological monitoring report describing the methods and

Walla Walla County Public Works Department Request For Qualifications

Mill Creek Road MP 6.5 to MP 8.0, CRP 22-02

Federal Aid No. FLAP-K364(008) Cultural Monitoring / Archaeological Services results of monitoring. Project construction is anticipated to begin in May of 2027, and be completed by December of 2027. Anticipated maximum total value of contract: $100,000. The project has a 0% DBE goal. At the sole option of Walla Walla County, the contract amount may be increased to meet ongoing needs of Walla Walla County on the specified project.

The consultant is expected to furnish all necessary field equipment, survey equipment, and other supporting equipment and consumables. The Consultant is expected to be able to plan, coordinate and complete detailed field exploration programs.

Estimated Schedule:

• Advertise RFQ on County Website July 17, 2026

• Advertise RFQ in Walla Walla Union Bulletin July 18 & 25, 2026

• Qualifications Due August 10, 2026

- 1:00 p.m. PDT

• Evaluation of Qualifications Complete August 21, 2026

• Interviews August 24 – 27, 2026

• Notice of Award August 31, 2026

• Sign Contract September 7, 2026

Evaluation Criteria:

Pursuant to county, state, and federal regulations, a qualifications-based selection process will be used to select a consultant. Consultants will be evaluated and ranked based on their submittal in the following criteria areas:

1. Qualifications of prime consultant and sub consultants to include qualifications and experience of personnel to be used on this contract.

2. Experience with similar types of work and familiarity with WSDOT/FHWA Standards.

3. Demonstrated ability to meet schedules/commitments given by key staff personnel.

- Availability and response time should include response times after contact as well as typical turnaround times for document preparation and revisions.

4. Methods, techniques, processes, and data control used.

5. Overall Proposal evaluation by the Walla Walla County selection team.

Consultant Proposals will be evaluated by Walla Walla County's review panel for accuracy, clarity, readability, and concise information along with consultant suggestions/comments for Walla Walla County's included scope of work, construction timeline, environmental outline, and other potential project complications.

Note: All categories will be rated on a scale of 0 to 10. These categories will be used to create a ranking of consultants. The criteria for selection would be identified to those consultants involved in the interviews. In the event of tied rankings, selection shall be based on the discretion of the contracting agency.

Interviews:

Following evaluation of the submittals, the highest-ranking firms will be invited to participate in an interview process. Walla Walla County Public Works will schedule interviews with the project manager provided in the firm’s submittal.

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 firm’s submittal, and to give the County's selection committee an opportunity to learn more about the consulting firm's available relevant experience and expertise.

Submittal Requirements:

Consultants that submit proposals in response to this RFQ must have the capability of providing the products and services listed under the project description of this RFQ. Walla Walla County assumes no obligation of any kind for expenses incurred by any respondent to this solicitation. All submittals become the property of Walla Walla County and will not be returned.

The RFQ submittal shall meet the following requirements, otherwise it will be deemed non-responsive and will not be eligible for further consideration.

• Each criterion for selection must be addressed;

• The maximum number of sheets allowed per submittal will be fifteen

(15) sheets, submitted ONLY on single sided 8.5" x 11" paper. We will allow one (1) page of the fifteen (15) sheets to be submitted on paper other than 8.5" x 11" size. The page count limitation applies to ALL sheets contained in the submittal. The only exceptions to the page count are the front and back cover.

• Federal Forms SF 254 and SF 255 are not required for this solicitation.

If these forms are included in the submittal, they will count towards the maximum limitation of fifteen (15) pages.

• Submittals should include the following information: Firm name, phone number(s) and email(s); Name of Principal-in-Charge and Project Manager; and Number of employees in the firm.

• Four (4) originals/copies of the submittals are due no later than 1:00 P.M. August 10, 2026, to Alex Zitterkopf, at the following address:

Walla Walla County Department of Public Works

990 Navion Lane

Walla Walla, WA 99362

• Late submittals, or those delivered by facsimile, electronic mail, or any other format other than bound paper copies, will be deemed non-responsive and will not be eligible for consideration.

• Refer questions pertaining to this RFQ to Alex Zitterkopf at 509-524- 2710.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information Walla Walla 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 pwinfo@co.walla-walla.wa.us or by calling (509) 524-2710.

Title VI Statement

Walla Walla 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.

All prospective consultants must be advised that federally funded projects will be held to Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) requirements.

Advertised: Walla Walla Union Bulletin, per 23 CFR 172.7(a)(1)(i) July 18 & 25, 2026 https://www.co.walla-walla.wa.us/government/public_works/request_for_proposals_qualifications.php mailto:pwinfo@co.walla-walla.wa.us https://www.co.walla-walla.wa.us/government/public_works/request_for_proposals_qualifications.php