RFQ PFAS Study.PDF

August 26, 2025

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

City of Bennettsville, SC

Raw Water Pilot Study for PFAS Contamination

CONSULTANT SERVICES

SRF 3410000-01

City of Bennettsville, SC RFQ #24-10-001

DUE DATE: September 30, 2025 12:00P.M.

RECEIPT LOCATION:

501 East Main Street

P.O. Box 1036 Bennettsville, SC 29512

OFFICIAL CONTACT:

Lisa Jones, Grants and Special Projects Coordinator lisa.jones@bennettsvillesc.com

The City of Bennettsville reserves the right to reject any and all submissions or any parts thereof and to waive any irregularities or minor informalities in any submission or in the procurement process and to make a contract award in the best interest of The City of Bennettsville.

This project is being funded in whole or in part by a loan from the State Revolving Fund (SRF). All SRF loan requirements will apply to the contract.

City of Bennettsville, SC

OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

P.O. Box 1036

“BENNETTSVILLE, A CITY ON THE MOVE”

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

WILLIAM C. SIMON, JR.

1. INTRODUCTION

The City of Bennettsville is issuing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify a licensed consultant to conduct the raw water pilot study for PFAS contamination at the raw water intake at Lake Paul Wallace. These services will be provided under contract with the City of Bennettsville, with funding provided in whole or in part by the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) and the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services State Revolving Fund loan.

1.1. Method of Procurement

This is a qualifications-based selection. Award of the contract will be given to the most responsible, responsive, and most highly qualified consulting firm based on the factors outlined in Section 5, SELECTION CRITERIA. Cost is NOT a factor in the ranking of firms to provide services herein. DO NOT include any reference to consultant costs in the RFQ response. Any RFQ response with any discussion of cost will be disqualified. Contract fees will be negotiated after selection based on the project scope. The general scope of the work is outlined below.

Firms are advised that this evaluation and selection process is a competition and not simply a prequalification. It is the intent of the City of Bennettsville to award the contract to a single Firm.

1.2. Project Description

The Raw Water Pilot Study in the City of Bennettsville is a vital project that will directly impact the health and well-being of the city's approximately 6,540 residents by ensuring the safety of their drinking water. PFAS contamination poses significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly, who are more susceptible to the adverse effects of these persistent chemicals. Long-term exposure to PFAS has been linked to serious health issues, including cancer, liver and kidney disease, immune system suppression, and developmental problems in infants and young children. By identifying the extent of PFAS contamination and determining the most effective treatment solutions, this study will help reduce the risk of exposure, providing residents with cleaner, safer drinking water and improving overall public health outcomes.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

P.O. Box 1036

“BENNETTSVILLE, A CITY ON THE MOVE”

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

WILLIAM C. SIMON, JR.

Relevant portions of the application for funding, including a detailed project description, can be found here: Purchasing | City of Bennettsville, SC

1.3. Information to be Supplied by The City of Bennettsville

The City of Bennettsville will provide the following information and resources to the selected firm for use during the project:

Existing raw water intake facility plans, operational data, and historical performance metrics.

Environmental compliance reports and regulatory requirements

Population growth projections and infrastructure development plans

Prior studies and assessments related to raw water intake(if available)

Maps of service area

Contracts of other consultants who were retained to assist with compliance

1.4. Scope of Work

To support this project, the City of Bennettsville is requesting consulting services to include the following scope of work:

The Raw Water Pilot Study will be conducted in multiple phases to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of PFAS contamination and treatment options. The first phase will involve an extensive data collection effort, where raw water samples will be taken from the raw water intake point at Lake Paul Wallace and analyzed for various PFAS compounds, including PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and other emerging contaminants.

Additionally, other water quality parameters such as pH, turbidity, and organic matter content will be assessed to determine their impact on potential treatment processes.

Following the initial assessment, the project will advance to pilot testing, where multiple treatment technologies will be evaluated for their effectiveness in removing PFAS from the water supply. Technologies under consideration include Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), Ion Exchange (IX) Resins, and Reverse Osmosis (RO) or Nanofiltration (NF).

Performance data will be collected and analyzed to determine the most effective and cost-efficient approach for full-scale implementation.

Once pilot testing is completed, the study will focus on data analysis and treatment recommendations. The results will be compared against EPA health advisory levels and anticipated regulatory thresholds to ensure compliance.

https://www.bennettsvillesc.com/purchasing

OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

P.O. Box 1036

“BENNETTSVILLE, A CITY ON THE MOVE”

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

WILLIAM C. SIMON, JR.

This comprehensive pilot study will provide the City of Bennettsville with the critical data needed to make informed decisions regarding long-term infrastructure upgrades for PFAS mitigation. By proactively addressing contamination at the source, the City will be better positioned to implement cost-effective solutions that protect public health and ensure regulatory compliance.

Deliverables Comprehensive Assessment Report

Prioritized recommendations with cost estimates

Presentation of findings and prioritized recommendations to the City Council

1.5. Project Schedule

The estimated project schedule is as follows:

Complete Data Collection October 30, 2025

Evaluate Current Conditions November 30, 2025

Analyze Operations December 30, 2025

Recommend Improvements January 15, 2026

Final Deliverables will be sent to City January 30, 2026

Information Presentation January 30, 2026

Grant Closeout February 28, 2026

Timely completion of the project is a key requirement, as delays could result in the loss of grant funding.

2. REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) PROCESS AND POLICIES

2.1. Submittal of Statements of Qualifications

The City of Bennettsville is hereby issuing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to consulting firms that have the capability and interest in undertaking and performing the scope of work

OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

P.O. Box 1036

“BENNETTSVILLE, A CITY ON THE MOVE”

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

WILLIAM C. SIMON, JR.

described in this RFQ. The RFQ will be publicly advertised in accordance with the RIA procurement guidelines.

The OFFICIAL CONTACT for this solicitation is:

Lisa Jones Grant Coordinator/Special Projects The City of Bennettsville

(843) 479-9001 X 382 lisa.jones@bennettsvillesc.com

Each firm responding to this solicitation is officially a RESPONDENT. Each respondent must submit a sealed package containing an original and ten copies plus one (1) digital copy of its statement of qualifications to Lisa Jones at the address above no later than September 30, 2025_.

Statements of qualifications may be submitted in person, by messenger, or by regular mail. All submissions will be logged in and date and time stamped. Any qualifications package that is received after the date and time specified will be logged and date and time stamped as "late" and returned unopened to the respondent.

2.2. Procurement Timeline

Release date for RFQ August 26, 2025

Final Date to Receive Written Questions/Clarifications September 15, 2025

RFQ Closing Date September 30, 2025

12:00PM

Completion of Selection Committee Review and Recommendation October 15, 2025

Execution of Contract November 1, 2025

2.3. Labeling of Submissions

All submissions must be submitted in a sealed envelope or package plainly marked "The City of Bennettsville – Raw Water Pilot Study for PFAS Contamination, ATTN: “Lisa Jones” with the name and address of the respondent in the upper left-hand corner. No responsibility will attach mailto:lisa.jones@bennettsvillesc.com

OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

P.O. Box 1036

“BENNETTSVILLE, A CITY ON THE MOVE”

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

WILLIAM C. SIMON, JR.

to the City of Bennettsville or any official or employee thereof, for the pre-opening, post opening, or failure to open a submission not properly addressed and identified.

2.4. Proprietary/Confidential Information

All materials and written qualifications submitted pursuant to this RFQ shall become the property of the City of Bennettsville and will not be returned. All respondents must visibly mark as "CONFIDENTIAL" each part of their submission that they consider containing proprietary information where the release of which would constitute an unreasonable invasion of privacy.

All unmarked pages will be subject to release in accordance with the law. Marked pages will not be disclosed if they are deemed to meet the requirements under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, S.C. Code Section 30-4-10, et seq. Respondents should be prepared, upon request, to provide justification of why such materials should not be disclosed in accordance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.

2.5. Questions/Requests for Clarification

All questions and/or requests for clarification regarding this RFQ should be provided in writing to Lisa Jones no later than _ September 15, 2025 ______________, at 5:00 pm. All questions submitted and their answers will be posted on the City of Bennettsville website as an addendum to this RFQ prior to the RFQ deadline. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.

2.6. Addenda

If it becomes necessary to revise any part of this RFQ, a written addendum will be issued. All addenda issued by the City of Bennettsville will become part of the official RFQ and will be posted on the City of Bennettsville website, www.bennettsvillesc.com. Receipt of all addenda must be acknowledged in the response to this RFQ.

2.7. Contact Policy

No direct or indirect contact regarding this solicitation may be made with any representatives of the City of Bennettsville other than the official contact identified in this RFQ. If such contact is made, the City of Bennettsville reserves the right to reject a submission by that respondent.

All questions and/or requests for clarification must be provided in accordance with Section 2.5 of the RFQ. This contact policy applies to site visits and requests for technical information. Any technical information needed from the City of Bennettsville to prepare a submission should be coordinated through the Questions/Requests for Clarification process outlined in Section 2.5.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

P.O. Box 1036

“BENNETTSVILLE, A CITY ON THE MOVE”

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

WILLIAM C. SIMON, JR.

2.8. Acceptance and Rejection of Submissions

Any submissions that do not conform to the essential requirements of the RFQ shall be rejected. The City of Bennettsville reserves the right to waive informalities and minor irregularities in submittals and reserves the sole right to determine what constitutes informalities and minor irregularities. The City of Bennettsville also reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submissions received in response to this RFQ. The City of Bennettsville is not obligated to enter into any contract on the basis of any submittal in response to this RFQ.

The City of Bennettsville reserves the right to request additional information from any firm submitting under this RFQ if such information is necessary to clarify the submission.

2.9. Cancellation/Rejection

The City of Bennettsville may cancel this RFQ in whole or in part at any time if it is determined to be in the best interest of the City of Bennettsville. The City of Bennettsville may reject any or all submissions in whole or in part if it is determined to be in the best interest of the City of Bennettsville.

2.10. Conflict of Interest

Respondents shall promptly notify the City of Bennettsville in writing of all potential conflicts of interest for any prospective business association, interest, or other circumstance, which may influence or appear to influence the respondent's judgment or quality of services being provided hereunder. Such written notification shall identify the prospective business association, interest, or circumstance, the nature of work that such a person may undertake and request an opinion of the City of Bennettsville as to whether the association, interest, or circumstance would, in the opinion of the City of Bennettsville, constitute a conflict of interest.

By responding to this RFQ, the respondent certifies that it has no conflict of interest with any employee, agent, elected official or officer of the City of Bennettsville or any other conflict as may be set forth herein.

2.11. Collusion

More than one submission from an individual, firm partnership, corporation, association, or related parties under the same or different names will not be considered. If the City of Bennettsville believes that collusion exists among respondents, all submissions from the suspected firms will be rejected. "Related parties" means respondents or the principals thereof, which have a direct or indirect ownership or profit-sharing interest in another respondent.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

P.O. Box 1036

“BENNETTSVILLE, A CITY ON THE MOVE”

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

WILLIAM C. SIMON, JR.

Respondents shall comply with all local, state, and federal directives, orders, and laws applicable to this RFQ and any resulting contract.

By responding to this RFQ, respondents certify that the response is made without previous understanding, agreement, or connection with any person, firm or corporation making a submission for the same item, and they certify the knowledge that this would constitute an illegal action.

3. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS CONTENTS

Respondents interested in providing the services outlined in this RFQ must prepare and submit a statement of qualifications that must not be more than the equivalent of 30 single sided 8 ½ by 11-inch pages in length (not counting the front and back covers, section dividers that contain no information, and any required forms such as resumes). The submission must include the following, in the order listed:

3.1. Cover Letter

The response should contain a cover letter signed by a person who is authorized to commit the respondent to perform the work described in this RFQ and should identify all subcontractors, materials, and enclosures being forwarded in response to the RFQ.

3.2. Firm Qualifications

Provide relevant information about the firm to include the following:

• Organization/company overview as it relates to the requirements of the RFQ.

• Organization/company overview of all subcontractors as it relates to the requirements of the RFQ.

• Number of years the firm has been providing the requested services with a brief description of recently performed projects that indicates the past performance and abilities of the proposed team. More detail on specific projects should be included in the Relevant Experience section.

3.3. Key Personnel

OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

P.O. Box 1036

“BENNETTSVILLE, A CITY ON THE MOVE”

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

WILLIAM C. SIMON, JR.

Provide a proposed project management structure that identifies the project manager and all personnel who will be assigned to work on this project, including a description of their abilities, qualifications (including education and licensure), and experience. Identify the proposed project manager who will be the sole point of contact for the City of Bennettsville during day-to-day operations and include their contact information. Include resumes for all key individuals (including sub-consultants) who will be completing a portion of the scope of work.

3.4. Relevant Experience

Provide descriptions of similar projects that the organization and/or key personnel have completed, including tasks involved, timeframes, and outcomes. Include any relevant experience with SRF requirements or grant-funded projects. Also include any relevant work performed in a nearby jurisdiction or in the City of Bennettsville’s jurisdiction.

3.5. Project Approach

A statement of understanding of the work to be done and a detailed methodology and work plan to include a proposed list of required tasks and milestones to address the scope of work included in this RFQ. Include any additional recommendations, options or alternatives that should be taken into consideration by the City of Bennettsville.

3.6. Firm Workload

Describe the recent, current, and projected workload of the respondent and any sub-consultants, related to how it might impact the respondent’s ability to meet the project’s timeline requirements as outlined in this RFQ.

3.7. References

Provide three (3) client references for relevant projects within the last 5 years that indicate the past performances and abilities of the proposed team. Include a key client contact person for each project with their current daytime phone number and email address.

4. EVALUATION AND AWARD PROCESS

4.1. Selection Committee

The City of Bennettsville will conduct a formal selection process to determine the best qualified respondent based on the criteria detailed in Section 5. This process will include the formation of a selection committee, and the appointment of other technical advisors as needed

OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

P.O. Box 1036

“BENNETTSVILLE, A CITY ON THE MOVE”

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

WILLIAM C. SIMON, JR.

to review all of the submissions and score them based on the established selection criteria outlined herein. The award will be made to the highest rated and ranked respondent based on the cumulative scores of the selection committee.

The City of Bennettsville reserves the right to contact a firm to obtain written clarification of information submitted and to contact references to obtain information regarding performance, reliability, and integrity. After evaluating the submitted Statements of Qualifications, the selection committee may choose to interview a short list of at least three firms prior to ranking the respondents. If interviews will be conducted, short-listed respondents will be notified at least ten (10) business days prior to the interview date.

4.2. Notice of Intent to Award

The selection committee’s recommendation for award will be presented to the City Council for consideration. If approved, a notice of “Intent to Award” will be posted on the City of Bennettsville website. A notice will also be emailed to all respondents informing them of the committee’s recommendation.

4.3. Protested Solicitations and Awards

Any respondent who is aggrieved in connection with the solicitation or award of a contract may protest according to the procedures in the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code, S.C. Code Section 11-35-4210.

4.4. Contract Negotiations/ Award of Contract

After the close of the appeal period, if no appeals were received or successfully granted, the highest rated respondent identified in the “Intent to Award” will be invited to enter into contract negotiations with The City of Bennettsville to finalize the scope of work, personnel, hours, hourly rates, use of sub-consultants, and other direct costs that will be required to complete the agreement between the City of Bennettsville and the selected respondent. If an agreement cannot be reached with the highest ranked firm, the City of Bennettsville will select the next highest ranked responsive and qualified firm, and the negotiation phase will be repeated. This process will continue until an agreement is reached with a qualified firm that can provide the required scope of services within the project budget. Any contracts awarded as a result of this procurement process will be between the respondent and the City of Bennettsville.

Per RIA/SRF guidelines, any contract negotiated as a result of this procurement process will require approval from RI/SRF prior to award/execution. Once a draft contract is negotiated, the City of Bennettsville will submit it to RIA/SRF for approval. Once approval is https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t11c035.php https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t11c035.php

OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

P.O. Box 1036

“BENNETTSVILLE, A CITY ON THE MOVE”

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

WILLIAM C. SIMON, JR.

granted, the City of Bennettsville and the selected respondent may enter into the contract.

Failure to adhere to this policy could result in disallowed grant costs and the cancellation of this solicitation.

5. SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection criteria and their relative importance in making the selection are:

5.1. Qualifications of Firm/Personnel (35%)

Technical expertise and competence, including education, professional licensure or certification, and years of experience of individuals who will be assigned to this project.

5.2. Related Experience on Similar Projects (20%)

Extent of relevant experience with infrastructure projects of a similar nature, including experience with RIA/SRF state-funded grants.

5.3. Past Performance (15%)

Performance recommendations with regard to work quality, schedule, budget, communication, and coordination of projects.

5.4. Project Approach (10%)

The soundness, suitability, comprehensiveness, and creativity of the respondent’s stated approach to the project and the desired outcome of the project.

5.5. Recent, Current, and Projected Workload (15%)

Workload of the firm and key personnel, related to how it might impact the respondent’s ability to meet the project’s schedule requirements.

5.6. Proximity and Local Knowledge (5%)

Proximity to the project location and knowledge of the area and the infrastructure to be improved, as demonstrated through relevant experience.