RFQ Testing Services 5.22.26.pdf

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

MATERIALS TESTING SERVICES

FOR THE CAPE FEAR PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY

WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

May 27, 2026

GENERAL

Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) desires to contract with a qualified materials testing firm to provide materials testing services associated with CFPUA Southside Water Reclamation

Facility expansion project.

This project includes the design of replacement and upgraded treatment facilities at the Southside

Water Reclamation Facility (SSWRF) in Wilmington, North Carolina. Cape Fear Public Utility

Authority (Owner) has contracted with HDR to serve as Owner’s Advisor (OA). Crowder

Construction Company (Design-Builder) and Hazen and Sawyer (Design Consultant) have been selected as the Design-Builder and Design Consultant, respectively, as the Design-Build Team to construct the new plant. McKim and Creed is serving as a Design Sub-Consultant to Hazen for selected engineering related services.

Southside Water Reclamation Facility is located at 3436 River Rd, Wilmington NC on property owned by CFPUA. The existing 12 MGD treatment plant will be expanded to 20 MGD. Design of the SSWWTP is generally restricted to the plant site (i.e. ‘inside the fence’) and is expected to include:

• Modifications to the influent as it enters the SWRF

• Preliminary Treatment Facility

• Primary Clarifiers and Sludge Pumping

• Secondary process: 3-stage BNR with Densification

• Blower Facility

• Secondary Clarifiers

• Odor Control for Primary Treatment and Solids

• RAS Pumping Station

• Tertiary Disc filters

• UV Disinfection

• Outfall piping to riverbank

• Non-Potable Water Pump Station

• Dewatering Building

• Liquid Sludge Storage Tanks

• Cake Storage drainage improvements and push wall

• Drain Pump Station

• Administration Building with integrated Laboratory

• Maintenance Building Storage (conversion of existing Dewatering Building)

• Emergency Generators, switch gear facility and fuel storage

The work for the material testing firm may consist of, but not be limited to, soils testing to provide soil percent compaction and soil classification; pavement testing to provide pavement thickness and density; concrete testing to provide material composition, temperature, slump, shrinkage, and strength; structural steel, welds, torque inspections; and any additional specialty inspection (SI) required by building code. The selected firm will coordinate with CFPUA contracted engineering consultants/inspectors, but report directly to the CFPUA. The selected firms will be expected to test materials for specified conditions and report results, including bring attention to material conditions out of what is to be expected or ordinary.

CFPUA hereby requests qualified firms to submit a Qualification Statement to provide materials testing services for the Term of this agreement, which shall be for one (1) year upon execution of the contract with the option to renew for up to 5 additional one-year terms.

SUBMISSION OF A STATEMENT QUALIFICATION (SOQ)

Materials testing firms are invited to submit a Statement of Qualification to the CFPUA to be received no later than 2:00 PM on June 25, 2026. Submittals received after this deadline will not be considered.

CFPUA will address questions regarding the RFQ until 2:00 PM on June 16, 2026.

Questions submitted after this time will not addressed. Questions concerning this advertisement should be directed to Ben Guerrieri, Procurement Manager, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, at bids@cfpua.org.

SOQ’s shall be limited to 25-pages or less, excluding cover page, table of contents, tabs, resumes and appendices.

Firms shall submit their statement of qualifications for consideration in .pdf format to bids@cfpua.org. Maximum file size for .pdf submission is 25MB. A reply will be sent to the email address submitting the statement of qualifications to confirm receipt. It is the submitting firms’ responsibility to confirm that CFPUA has received statement of qualifications via email. If email reply is not received from bids@cfpua.org, please call 910-332-6472 or 910-332-6651 before deadline for submission.

Submitted information shall comply with N.C.G.S. 143-64.31 through 64.34 (aka Mini Brooks Act).

All SOQ’s will be evaluated by a CFPUA selection team.

EVALUATION

Firms submitting Statements of Qualifications to perform the Materials Testing Services will be evaluated based upon the firm's experience, knowledge and familiarity in materials testing, specifically related to large water and wastewater treatment plants expansions along with experience with common soils found in this region of North Carolina. Firm shall also have experience with various roadway materials currently required by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the City of Wilmington, and various concrete mixes.

mailto:bids@cfpua.org

SELECTION

CFPUA will follow a qualifications-based selection process. Firm must demonstrate their level of competence and qualification, and each sub-consultant's level of competence and qualification, with respect to the listed evaluation factors for the needed services.

SOQ’s will be evaluated based on the following four (4) considerations and the level of importance for each consideration. The SOQ shall be formatted consistent with the evaluation consideration.

Criteria shown under each of the four (4) considerations are to be addressed in the SOQ.

Consultant’s may provide additional information as necessary.

Item Evaluation Criteria Maximum Points

1 Project understanding and approach 20 2 Relevant firm experience 35 3 Overall staff experience 25 4 Record of success by the consultant 20

Total Possible Points 100

1. Project understanding and approach (20%)

a. Understanding of testing requirements for a large plant expansion project, projects overall program and objectives

2. Relevant firm experience (35%)

a. Experience with material testing and specialty inspections.

b. Projects of similar and scope

3. Overall staff experience proposed for this project (25%)

a. Adequate staffing/resources to perform the work

b. Personnel staff with proper certifications

c. Organization Chart

4. Record of success by the material testing firm (20%)

a. Record of project success, demonstrated by work previously performed for

CFPUA or similar work performed for others

b. Ability to compile with contractors schedule and flexibility with material testing and inspections (24/7).

A more detailed scope of work and fee schedule will be negotiated with the best qualified firm.

If negotiations are not successful with any selected firm, CFPUA will terminate negotiations with that firm and initiate negotiations with the next best qualified firm.

Qualifying Statements shall at a minimum include:

1. Firm name, address, telephone number, fax number, email address, and contact person(s).

2. Qualifications and experience of personnel who would be providing material testing services for the project(s),

a. Including a list of five (5) projects with similar materials testing to include

i. a summary of the testing requirements and testing methods performed,

ii. the owner of the project

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The following criteria will be deemed necessary for selection:

• The firm must meet the following insurance requirements. Workers Compensation may be waived if firm has no employees.

• General Liability $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate. Authority must be additional insured and endorsement required.

• Workers Compensation $500,000/$500,000/$500,000. Waiver of Subrogation against the

Authority and endorsement required.

• Auto Liability Insurance $1,000,000 per occurrence combined single limits applicable to claims due to bodily injury and/or property damage. Authority must be additional insured and endorsement required.

• Professional Liability not less than $2,000,000 per loss.

• Any firm wishing to be considered must be properly registered with the Office of the

Secretary of State.

CFPUA will select one firm to provide the materials testing services based on the criterion stated in this notice and other relevant materials that may be submitted by applicants.

NOTIFICATION

The selected firms will be notified by telephone and/or email.

The CFPUA reserves the right to reject any and all Submittals.

Any questions concerning this advertisement should be directed to Ben Guerrieri, Procurement Manager, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, at bids@cfpua.org by June 16, 2026, at 2:00pm. Questions submitted after this time will not be addressed.

END