RFQ - Resilient Redevelopment Services.docx

Request for Qualifications Professional Engineering Services – Resilient Redevelopment

The Town of Hertford requests Letters of Interest and Statements of Qualifications (“Responses”) from engineering firms that will support resilient redevelopment of Town-owned facilities and infrastructure, with an emphasis on redeveloping parks, other public spaces, and supporting infrastructure. Proposals are due by Friday, October 2, 2026, at 4 p.m. Proposals shall be submitted digitally and in hard copy, as detailed below in Section 3, Submittal Instructions.

1. About the Town of Hertford (Client Understanding) The Town of Hertford is a small, riverfront community in Perquimans County in northeastern North Carolina. The Town was founded in 1758, and it is rich in natural, historical, and cultural resources. The Town is also aggressively advancing economic and community development, including through major infrastructure investments. However, to unlock its full potential, the Town must revitalize and expand community assets, including aged parks and public spaces that suffer from frequent flooding.

2. Scope of Services Through this RFQ, the Town anticipates entering into one or more long-term master services agreements to develop and implement various projects. Specific task orders will be issued to authorize work at mutually agreed-upon terms and amounts.

An immediate focus will be two high-priority public parks: Missing Mill Park and the adjacent Community Center. These sites are located at 300 and 305 Grubb Street respectively. For the selected firm(s), the anticipated immediate tasks will be detailed scoping, budgeting, and other services necessary to support grant applications in 2027 and 2028.

Respondents should possess cross-disciplinary expertise and the capacity to scale up as projects demand. The following services should be offered:

· Comprehensive site assessments, including analysis/integration of prior plans and documents and evaluation of existing facilities – identification of failing/deficient infrastructure (including boardwalks and utilities), performing any necessary surveying/geotechnical work, feasibility of additional/expanded amenities, etc.; site assessments should also consider ADA compliance and national/industry standards as appropriate (e.g., NRPA standards/level of service)

· Full project lifecycle services: conceptualization, design, permitting, procurement, construction administration/observation, and closeout

· State and federal permit preparation and management (NC CAMA, NEPA compliance, etc.), including all necessary correspondence and submittals to permitting agencies

· Grant support, including providing technical documentation necessary for grant applications, and supporting the Town’s reporting and compliance with grant awards

· Community engagement, including public-facing documents and in-person meetings, as desirable, with elected officials, stakeholders, and residents Additionally, the following services are desirable, but not required:

· Traffic and other transportation-related analysis and planning as may be site-relevant

· Capacity to perform environmental site assessments and support possible “Brownfield” projects

· Stormwater/flood reduction modeling and benefit-cost analyses, particularly to FEMA standards

3. Submittal Instructions Two (2) hard copies of Responses shall be mailed to 114B W. Grubb St., Hertford, NC, 27944, to the attention of Doris Walton, Town Manager. Responses shall also be emailed to Ms. Walton and Grants Administrator Jon Hawley at dwalton@townofhertfordnc.com and jhawley@townofhertfordnc.com, respectively. Hard and digital copies are due by 4 pm on October 2, 2026.

Responses shall be limited to 20 pages of content. (E.g., up to 20 single-sided or 10 double-sided pages.) Resumes are separate from this restriction.

Responses shall follow the format below. Address all bullet points under each part.

I. Cover Letter

· Introduce the Respondent/firm. Provide a short history. Identify the Respondent’s main office, and state the office location that would serve the Town, if separate.

· Confirm the services the Respondent can provide, referencing Section 2 above.

· Identify the team lead / main point of contact, and a secondary contact. Provide phone numbers and email addresses for both.

II. Credentials

· Identify the proposed team serving the Town, including subconsultants, if any, and their lead/key personnel. Identify their roles, areas of expertise, and relevant credentials. Provide a team organizational chart.

· If applicable, describe any individuals, offices, or subconsultants that would support the proposed team as projects advance, expand, or require specialized tasks.

· Provide detailed resumes of leading/core team members. These may be included as an attachment, separate from the 20-page content limit. Short professional biographies of secondary team members are acceptable. For each subconsultant, provide a short company history and resume of lead/key personnel.

· Provide the proposed team’s hourly rates. (These rates will not affect proposal review/selection.)

III. Experience

· Provide an overview of the Respondent’s experience relevant to this RFQ, including conceptualizing, designing, and delivering projects that meet community expectations while ensuring resiliency. This could include: numbers and types of projects performed, clients and/or general region served, dollar amount of projects performed or underway, etc.

· Describe the Respondent’s experience in working with federal and state agencies and regulatory/permitting processes. Be sure to name specific agencies and processes that are likely relevant to projects under this RFQ.

· Describe the Respondent’s experience in supporting federal and state grant applications. Discuss how projects were designed/adapted to maximize leveraging of external funding. Name major grantors and programs the respondent has worked with, such as Coastal Management Access Grants, PARTF, LWCF, BRIC (FEMA), etc.

· Detail three to five projects performed in the last five years that are relevant to this RFQ. At minimum, provide each project’s name, location, client, dollar amount, duration / current stage, and whether the project is on schedule and within budget. Discuss any value engineering or other cost-saving measures taken to keep projects on track. Provide client contact information; this response will also provide Client References.

IV. Capacity & Project Approach

· Describe the availability of the proposed team. Explain the team’s capacity to take on additional work as projects advance or new opportunities emerge.

· Describe the Respondent’s approach to project initiation and management, including client and community engagement. Note: community support is a resource to harness, not a “box to check.” Describe how the Respondent ensures community engagement enhances projects.

· Describe the Respondent’s approach to site assessment, balancing due diligence with cost-effective, results-oriented data collection.

· Describe the Respondent’s process for cost estimation and ensuring the most accurate possible estimates at each design stage. Describe how opportunities for value engineering, phasing, and other viable cost controls are integrated into project concepts and design.

· Delay is under-performance. Describe how the Respondent develops achievable project schedules and meets deadlines, including streamlining state and federal reviews.

4. Review & Selection Per NC General Statute 143-64.31, this RFQ represents a qualifications-based procurement. The Town will review and select Responses as follows. The Town reserves the right to reject all proposals.

Threshold Requirements: Responses that are received late, do not address all topics, or are otherwise incomplete, shall not be considered. (Mail hard copies early. Ensure Town staff confirm receipt of digital copies.)

Proposals that meet Threshold Requirements will be scored based on Credentials (35), Experience (35), and Capacity and Project Approach (30) as detailed in Parts II, III, and IV of their Responses.

The Town may, in its discretion, select multiple firms for master services agreements.

5. Additional Information Questions regarding this RFQ should be submitted, in writing, to dwalton@townofhertfordnc.com and jhawley@townofhertfordnc.com. Questions must be submitted by September 25, 2026, or responses are not guaranteed. Clarifications or addenda to this RFQ, if needed, will be posted online at townofhertfordnc.com and emailed to known interested parties.

Potential Respondents are also encouraged to review the following community plans in drafting their Responses: the Community and Riverfront Plan, the Town of Hertford Resilience Strategy, and the Perquimans County Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. These documents are available at townofhertfordnc.com under “Government > Strategic Goals and Objectives.”